Edghill says ‘no playing’ as work advances on 80km Corentyne Highway Expansion amid community consultations

Residents along the Corentyne corridor were brought up to speed on the US$604 million highway project as Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill led consultations on Tuesday.

The engagements were held in Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Leeds Village, Corentyne, and Skeldon, bringing together residents, contractors, and other key stakeholders.

During the meetings, Minister Edghill provided updates on the massive infrastructure project and addressed concerns raised by those in attendance.

The Corentyne Highway expansion is divided into three major phases. Lot One covers the stretch from East Canje to John’s in Port Mourant, Lot Two spans Bloomfield to Number 54 Village, and Lot Three extends from Number 55 Village to Moleson Creek.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Edghill explained that the project is being executed under a design, build, and finance model. Lots One and Three have been awarded to an Indian contractor, while Lot Two is currently being undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation.

“For this project, Vishnu Samundra from India is the contractor… 80 km of roads from Sheet Anchor all the way to Moleson Creek will be developed,” Edghill said, emphasising the scale and importance of the initiative.
He also underscored the government’s firm expectations regarding quality.

“The Government of Guyana expects nothing less than the highest quality in the delivery of this project. We are not playing on this project; we are holding them accountable. The people of Berbice must have the highest-quality delivered project,” he stated.

The project is being supervised by RITES Limited, an international engineering firm known for overseeing the successful completion of the Eccles to Ogle four-lane highway.

While acknowledging that construction activities will bring some temporary inconveniences, particularly dust, Minister Edghill assured residents that mitigation measures, such as regular wetting of the roadway, will be implemented.

The Corentyne Highway expansion is anticipated to significantly improve connectivity, enhance road safety, and boost economic activity across Region Six upon completion.