Contractors working on the flood-damaged Manzanilla/Mayaro Road have been given a Christmas deadline to restore the link between the two communities to allow for light to medium traffic. The road-repair project, which began on Monday, is expected to cost some $57 million, which includes acquiring two to three properties along the Manzanilla stretch to put proper drainage and road infrastructure in place.
Yesterday Roger Ganesh, who retired on Wednesday as Director of Highways, as he had turned 60, revealed the price tag for the project and said the first priority for the three contractors on the project is “to get back connectivity before Christmas.” Ganesh said, during a telephone interview yesterday, the contractors have been given until next week to have a road in place.
“That is road-paving established for light to medium traffic, and they will be working round the clock, 24/7 as well,” Ganesh said. He said contractors Junior Sammy (Jusamco Pavers), Coosal’s Construction and Danny Enterprises Ltd were awarded the contract through the Programme for Upgrading Roads Efficiency (Pure).
Works and Infrastructure Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan yesterday said that Raghunath Singh & Co had also been added to the list. “We will have a number of smaller contractors coming in to do the drainage and other works. Right now, we are trying to establish a road that will connect people back to the community so they could get back driving through there as early as possible.
“I want to emphasise it will not involve heavy vehicles, but buses will probably be able to get through,” the minister said. Last month a three-kilometre stretch of the road was damaged when floodwaters raged through Mayaro.