The Government’s planned alternative access road linking Ruimzeight to Tuschen through Leonora is taking shape as part of efforts to ease congestion along the West Coast Demerara (WCD) corridor. President Irfaan Ali highlighted the project on Monday in a video posted to his social media page, noting that the road is being delivered through a collaboration between the Public Works and Housing Ministries. Head of the Special Projects Unit at the Public Works Ministry, Colin Gittens, said the project will involve upgrading and strengthening existing roads along the route and bringing them to an asphaltic finish. “The Special Projects Unit will be upgrading and strengthening all the existing road and bringing it to asphaltic finish, while the Ministry of Housing will be doing all the interconnecting bridges and will be executing the construction of new sections along the corridor,” Gittens said.

He said the project is intended to provide an alternative to the heavily congested WCD public road, reducing travel time and improving access for commuters. “This will bring a significant ease in travel along the West Coast Road and also reduce the travel time along the corridor,” Gittens said. The alternative route is being advanced through the Special Projects Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Housing and Water, with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) responsible for elements of the project. The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported in June that the Government had moved to the bidding stage for the Alternative Bypass Route for West Coast Demerara traffic from Tuschen to Ruimzeight. At the time, the CH&PA invited sealed bids from eligible contractors for 13 lots under the project, with each lot expected to have a construction period of approximately eight months. The project forms part of the Government’s broader plans to improve transportation infrastructure and connectivity in Region Three, particularly as residential, commercial and industrial development continues along the West Demerara corridor. The 2026 Budget allocated $14.7 billion for Region Three’s development programme. Of that amount, $123 million was approved for the construction of several bridges, while another $493 million was allocated for public works across the region, including $100 million for road rehabilitation. The bypass is expected to provide an alternative route for motorists travelling along the West Coast, with the Government aiming to improve traffic flow and reduce pressure on the existing public road. Gittens said the initiative is also intended to provide commuters with a safer and faster travel option along the corridor.