On Tuesday, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali inspected ongoing work on the massive four-lane highway development extending from Buzz Bee Dam to Land of Canaan, providing an overview during a live broadcast of the project’s scope.
The project is divided into eight lots, with work simultaneously occurring across all sections.
Thus far, Lot 7 is the most advanced at 57 per cent completion, while Lot 1 sits at 33 per cent. To maintain this momentum, contractors have been working around the clock to finish critical drainage and excavation work. The president noted that up to six feet of swamp material has had to be excavated to prepare the foundation.
The project will create a seamless interconnection between the Mandela Highway, the Heroes Highway, and the Ogle Highway, aiming to dismantle the chronic traffic congestion that has long plagued the East Bank corridor.
Integrated into the road construction is the installation of high-voltage transmission lines and secondary power grids that will provide reliable electricity to emerging communities. President Ali further highlighted the construction of 28 massive concrete drainage structures between Buzz Bee Dam and Land of Canaan to ensure that the surrounding backlands are protected from flooding, safeguarding both residential areas and agricultural investments.
Beyond reducing travel time, the president explained that the project will provide the necessary access to unlock land for over 2,500 new homes and helping to clear the housing backlog in Region 4.
“This what is needed – the level of effort and scale of effort for us to get to the point of allocation and this this is some of the work you don’t see behind the scenes. This highway will connect us directly into Georgetown from Mandela. It will be interconnected Aubrey Barker road and then interconnected with the Ogle four-lane highway,” President Ali said.
Last August, the president commissioned the Buzz Bee Dam to Great Diamond leg, which was the third third phase of the larger East Bank highway expansion.