As part of its continuing programme of national road works, the government is set to spend over $2 billion for the upkeep of roads in regions Three and Six.
A Ministry of Public Works press release on Thursday that a total of 57 contracts, valued at $2,088,644,072, had been signed for rehabilitation of miscellaneous roads in regions Three and Six.
The sum of $1,567,065,060 has been allocated for Region Three, and $521,579,012 for Region Six.
According to the release, in total, 57 miscellaneous roads will be rehabilitated, spanning the length of 27 kilometres across regions Three and Six. The design features rehabilitation of existing alignments to either asphaltic concrete or concrete pavement.
Present at the signing were several new contractors who had successfully tendered for projects. Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, at the signing ceremony, welcomed the new contractors to the fold and emphasised the need for quality work.
The Minister noted that the new contractors represent evidence of government’s continued commitment to ensuring a level playing field for opportunities for every person and business, regardless of size. He assured that government will continue to implement its budget, to advance its infrastructure development agenda and bring much needed relief to communities nationwide.
Edghill also urged contractors to work on their community relationships to ensure respect and cordiality with communities. He stressed that developmental works in communities “must not leave a bitter taste in the mouth of the beneficiaries” and that the experience must be a pleasant one.
“Again, I am emphasising that before work starts in a community, the engineers must go with the contractor and meet the leaders of the community to talk to them about the project and to give them a copy of the unpriced bill of quantities. The people must be able to have that, and I want to emphasise that again.”
The duration of the various projects is between two to 10 months, the release added.
