–?? ?Contrary to earlier indicationsBy Keeran DannyExpansion of the East Bank Demerara Public Road into a four-lane thoroughfare from Providence to Diamond is expected to conclude the third quarter of this year. This development is contrary to earlier indications that the project was moving apace, especially in Diamond where works had stalled for months.Construction ongoing at the ‘high bridge’ near DDLContracts for this expansion project were awarded in September 2011 with an 18-month duration, which came into effect when physical works began. Owing to several delays such as the presence of utilities, inclement weather and modifications to designs, the contractors were unable to conclude the task in the prescribed time.Dipcon Engineering Services is responsible for constructing Lot One, from Providence to Prospect; Gaico Construction in association with General Earth Movers of Trinidad and Tobago is responsible for Lot Two, from Prospect to Diamond; and BK International is constructing Lot Three from Demerara Distillers Limited “high bridge” to Diamond Housing Scheme entrance.Commuters who depend on the East Bank Demerara thoroughfare are constantly questioning how soon the project would conclude. Depressions in the existing road surface and increasing traffic congestion are frustrating, if not tormenting road users daily.According to Public Works Engineer, Ron Rahaman, the expansion project will conclude in the third quarter of this year,Cheap China Jerseys, but Lot Two may finish a little before. Lot Two has reportedly been one of the most progressive sections since the project began, perhaps because the contractor had no utilities as obstruction in the cane fields.The unbearable traffic congestion during the peak hours at Diamond is primarily caused byThe temporary Diamond Car Parkthe sunken condition of the roadway.Rahaman enlightened that the contractor, BK International, responsible for constructing the section from Demerara Distillers Limited “high bridge” to Diamond Housing Scheme entrance attempted to fix the problem area on several occasions. However, the temporary fixes have not remedied the situation. The contractor would have to carry out permanent works, “which requires him going down a depth of 1.5 metres and coming back up, placing construction materials…He is waiting on the weather for that and that activity would happen during the night”.Commuters and other road users, particularly minibus operators, are anxiously awaiting the road to be fixed since they are losing money owing to the torturous delays in traffic.“I usually make eight to nine trips per day,Wholesale Jerseys NFL, but since the traffic jam for no apparent reason, I only making five to six trips. This is hard, because you have to pay a conductor and buy fuel and it’s just long lines every day…What is frustrating also is that when you reach in front., you realise there is absolutely no reason for the line,” one minibus driver lamented.In 2012, Lot Three had stalled for months because of the presence of utilities. The project resumed in 2013 because the Guyana Water Incorporated’s pipelines and conduits and Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL)’s poles were relocated. But the project was not able to move into full swing becauseThe deplorable road at Diamond that continues to contribute to frustrating traffic congestion.of the presence of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T)’s utilities.According to Rahaman, “The only utility that poses a threat to the project is GT&T. GPL has some poles,Wholesale Jerseys China, but GT&T’s lines are on the poles…GPL is okay. The MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) has been completed, but we have been asked to move from a MOU to a contract with GT&T.”He related that the funding agency wants to have certain things stipulated such as the defects liability period and insurance to cover the works included in the contracts. Apparently, the Memorandum of Understanding did not cater for those things.Another concern in Lot Three is the placement of the car park. Currently, taxi drivers are using the left shoulder of the Diamond Public Road, opposite Courts,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, as a temporary car park. When this section is completed, the taxi drivers are unaware as to where they would be placed. They were told of a park being erected at the head of the second entrance of the Diamond Housing Scheme. However, no definite word has reached them.According to Rahaman, the design of Lot Three does not cater for a taxi park and the cars definitely cannot encumber the road when completed. He noted that there were discussions of a secondary road being erected, but he could not comment any further on that matter. In addition, there are talks of making the Dia