Minister Edghill Calls for GPF to Restrict Truck Use on East Coast Railway Embankment
Traffic congestion caused by broken road on the Coldingen road on the railway embankment
Kaieteur News – Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill is urging the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to enforce restrictions on heavy-duty trucks traveling along the East Coast Railway Embankment.
On August 31, 2024, the Ministry of Public Works issued a notice, advising truck drivers that, “effective immediately, they are required to use the main road and refrain from using the Railway Embankment corridor.” The announcement highlighted ongoing repairs to bridges along the embankment, which have suffered damage from heavy trucks, impacting both residents and other road users.
In a letter published in the Stabroek News on Tuesday, it was noted that heavy trucks continue to use the embankment, recently causing a bridge on the Coldingen, East Coast Demerara road to collapse again and leading to significant traffic congestion on the main access road. The concerned citizen remarked, “Alas, three weeks have passed since this missive was issued and the trucks have never stopped using this road. In fact, they have become more blatant with blaring horns and moving in convoys of three or more during the day and night.”
In response to these concerns, Minister Edghill spoke with Kaieteur News on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for the GPF to enforce measures to keep trucks off the railway road. “Trucks will not be allowed on the Railway Embankment, crossing the aqua panel bridges because of the weight they carry,” he stated. “They are damaging the bridges, I just done fixing a lot of bridges over the weekend. The police have to enforce these measures, it’s the way we dealt with the situation in Lamaha Gardens (Georgetown), we put up the no trucking signs and so on, so that is the same thing that we have to do.”
Back in March 2024, the Minister had visited the Lamaha Gardens, announcing reduced speed limits and the installation of signs, along with plans for GPF patrols to ensure compliance.
Additionally, Minister Edghill urged the public to help enforce these measures, stating, “ [People] must report these stuff, take the truck numbers, send the pictures, and let us impound them because we have given them designated routes.”
