-President Ali says at commissioning of $10.1B interconnecting thoroughfare
-announces plans to extend it to facilitate travel to Soesdyke, Linden
COMMUTERS can now look forward to improved travel and reduced congestion, as President, Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday officially opened the new $10.1 billion Great Diamond to Buzz Bee Dam highway.
At the commissioning ceremony, President Ali emphasised that the new road is more than just concrete and asphalt; it’s a symbol of the government’s strategic vision and commitment to improving the lives of all Guyanese.
“That is the difference a government makes when it governs with foresight, and we are not stopping here at Buzz Bee Dam. This road will not end at Great Diamond; we are extending it to Soesdyke.”
Government also plans to connect the road to Linden.
The highway, part of a broader national infrastructural plan, is designed to ease traffic congestion, boost economic activities and open up previously inaccessible areas to development. According to the President, road infrastructure is foundational to Guyana’s transformation into a modern, connected, and prosperous nation.
“Unless we create a road transport system that removes burdens from citizens, we will never unlock the full potential of this country,” he said, before underscoring the broader implications of infrastructural development, saying roads are essential to every sector of the economy.
“Roads are not just for cars. They are arteries of development. They are veins that carry commerce, industry, agriculture and tourism. Without good roads, we cannot get produce from farm to market in time. Without good roads, workers cannot reach factories and offices on schedule. Without good roads, families cannot connect with each other easily without good roads. Without good roads we are stuck in the past.”
The new road is expected to reduce travel time, increase property value, and enhance productivity.
Meanwhile, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal reminded those gathered that the new highway is part of a broader infrastructural transformation, with over 56.5 km of major roadways completed or underway.
These included the Eccles to Great Diamond interlink road, commissioned back in 2021; the Mandela Avenue to Eccles highway commissioned in 2022 and the Eccles to Great Diamond highway also commissioned in 2022. The Great Diamond extension four-lane highway, commonly known as the Heroes Highway was commissioned in 2023.
According to Minister Croal, the project, led by the Ministry of Housing and Water, has saved millions by using local expertise.
“This highway is more than an asphalt road. It is a road to opportunity. It’s a faster route for commuters; it’s a cheaper path for businesses; it’s a smaller journey for families; from farmer to entrepreneur; worker to students. This highway carries not only vehicles, but the votes of a more modern Guyana, We all know of the frustration our people face, hours wasted in traffic, time stolen from families, productivity lost because of congestion,” Minister Croal said.
He added, “This corridor answers those frustrations with further relief, ease and efficiency. The completion of this highway is not an isolated achievement. It is part of a bold and deliberate strategy of infrastructural transformation.”
Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Susan Rodrigues, noted that the works for these massive road networks were first conceptualised in 2009 by President Ali, who was the housing minister at the time.
She said he had a vision to alleviate traffic congestion on the East Bank corridor, open new lands for housing and spur development across the country.
