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$161 million contract signed for new Linden Expressway
Ministry of Public Works Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud (center) on Wednesday signed a $161 million contract with the contractor of the Linden-Soesdyke Expressway project.
– Project includes 2,900 street lights, reflective road markings, truck parking areas
Kaieteur News– The Government of Guyana on Wednesday signed a $161 million contract with Trinidadian company Namalco Construction Services (from Trinidad and Tobago), a joint venture between the company and Guyamerica Construction Inc. (Guyana), for the reconstruction of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
The rebuilt highway is designed to accommodate the volume of freight that passes through it each day. The project will include the installation of approximately 2,900 street lights, reflective road markings and truck staging areas.
According to Kaieteur News, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) announced on its website that Namalco and Guyana Company won the contract worth US$161,369,374 on June 26, 2024.
Kaieteur News also reported that the joint venture was one of four bidders when the contract was opened at the NPTAB in January 2024. According to data from engineers at the Ministry of Public Works, the project is expected to cost $183,567,095.
The upgrade of the Sosdyke-Linden Expressway is being funded by a loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the first development project financed by the bank in Guyana.
In May 2023, it was reported that the Guyana government signed a $200 million framework agreement with the Islamic Development Bank to rebuild the highway. The project will repair and rebuild 73 kilometers of highway.
Speaking about the scope of the works at a signing ceremony at the Mighty Enchanter Creek section of the highway, Public Works Minister Juan Edgehill said the project will see the construction of three roundabouts, one at the Soesdyke-Linden junction, one at Millie’s Hide Out and another at Five Corners in Linden.
“This project will bring jobs to a lot of people because after this highway is rehabilitated, there will be 2,900 street lights along the entire highway. For those who live on the highway, let me tell you about this project, all the bridges will be completed and when you move from one section, you will no longer have to walk on the bridge in the middle of traffic, there will be pedestrian bridges on the side of the main bridges,” he elaborated.
A section of the Linden-Soesdijk highway.
Additionally, the Public Works Minister said in response to the dangers of trucks being parked on highways without proper lighting at night, they will introduce parking areas so that trucks have more places to park on the roadside and do not obstruct traffic.
“Those who live on this avenue and travel through it know that we have been experiencing severe faulting, or what we call washouts. This project entails improved drainage throughout the highway… The road markings on the road will be high-quality markings that will provide reflective visibility at night, so when you are driving and the light hits the markings and signs, they will be bright, helping you navigate the turns, and it will be reflective,” he further explained.
This publication has learnt that emergency stops and rest areas will be provided at specific locations along the highway.
Minister Edhill also mentioned in his speech that the entire road will be dug up and a new roadbed and pavement will be laid. According to him, the Soestdijk-Linden road was built between 1966 and 1968 and some sections have sunk over the years due to the large number of vehicles passing through it.
To that end, he said one of the main goals of the project is “to cater for the new tonnage that’s coming through the highway. The reason this highway was opened is that we have to improve and cater to the current transportation needs, there are thousands of vehicles on this road every day, so we have to improve that.”
Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali in his special address said the reconstruction of the highway will take two years and about 300 people will be employed to carry out the work. The President urged Linden residents and communities along the highway to maximize the available job opportunities.
The President further said that the project is part of a wider investment plan to transform the country, create opportunities, rebuild and expand the economy, and promote integration among different regions of the country.
“This expressway is vital not only because it connects Regions 4 and 10, but more importantly, it is one of the main arterial routes supporting the development of hinterland communities and the wider region. But more importantly, this expressway will be linked to other key infrastructure that will expand our country’s production capacity, expand land supply and open up new areas for multifaceted investment portfolios,” he explained.
According to Kaieteur News, in October last year, NPTAB had awarded the contract to Al-Habshi Engineering Consultants, a Kuwaiti company, in a joint venture with Guyanese company CB & Associates Inc., to provide supervision services for the project. The contract cost is $1,775,000.
The Linden-Southdyke Highway is in dire need of repair, and the government has spent millions of dollars on repairs over the years due to overuse of the road.
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