The Red Road in Providence, East Bank Demerara which was wrecked by a stone stockpile, is to be widened and concrete drains installed since the recent emergency rehabilitation has been completed.
Vendors will be served with notices to desist from selling along the road and parapet.
In wake of the recent incident that occurred at Red Road, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, stated that the widening of the road will begin soon. The drains will be concreted so that business owners will not be affected by stagnant water.
Edghill emphasised that notices will be served to vendors selling along the road and parapet. “Let me take this opportunity to ask the vendors that are selling in front of the road and along the parapet of the road to desist from doing so. We will be serving notices for all those vending along the roads; they know the right thing.”
Three weeks ago, a stockpile of some 30,000 tonnes of aggregate stored in the parking lot of the National Stadium created a huge bulge at the entrance to Red Road, resulting in severe damage to the roadway. The bulge raised the road some six to eight feet. The aggregate stockpile is owned and maintained by the Ministry of Public Works.
The bulge damaged 150 metres of the road. The event was described as unusual since the area has been used several times before to stockpile aggregate, crusher run, and stone, Edghill explained.
During the emergency rehabilitation process, contractors encountered further movements of the earth and a geotechnical investigation was launched. Work had ceased and soil samples were taken. After the investigation was completed, modelling works were done to determine the type of stabilization needed for the completion of the road.
EC Vieira, AJM Enterprises, XL Engineering, and GuyAmerica Construction Inc, were among the contractors who responded with machines to execute some of the work. XL Engineering and GuyAmerica Construction Inc. were mobilised to reconstruct the damaged road.
Red Road was reopened to vehicular traffic on October 18.
