The eroded section of the road (DPI photo)
July 26 ,2021
The eroded section of the Hauraruni Access Road, which was completed just months ago, will be repaired by the contractor, Khemraj Nauth and Sons Contracting under the Defects Liability clause of the contract, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill yesterday said.
Stabroek News understands that the road was constructed in late 2020 but eroded after heavy rainfall and poor drainage on the thoroughfare.
Edghill yesterday said that the contractor and engineers from his ministry are expected to meet at the site today to conduct an assessment and come up with a design of the works needed to be done.
The minister stated that they have deployed sandbags to the affected area to prevent the road from eroding further.
A resident of the community, Deoram Timram yesterday told Stabroek News that while the damage seems disastrous it is not. He said that vehicles are still allowed to traverse the area. He noted that the Ministry has erected warning signs to vehicle users and has cordoned off the area.
Timram told this newspaper that the erosion occurred about two days ago after intense rainfall. The man noted that if construction of the road on the western side of the hill had been completed there would have been adequate drainage. However, with intensive rainfall, he said the contractor was not able to follow his work schedule resulting in delays.
“With all that rain it is washing down the loam and that is causing blockages… everything is being washed into the creek and that is causing the erosion,” he said.
“The contractor for the western side of the hill is also struggling because the rain is so much and he cannot get to work. All the sand he put for the road keep washing away… how long rain doesn’t hold up they cannot get to do any good work,” the resident said.
“We would like the public to know that the Ministry has contacted the contractor for corrective/remedial works to be executed. Road users are asked to exercise caution and observe all directional and safety signs in the area,” the Department of Public Information reported the ministry as saying on Saturday.