Road traffic between Georgetown and Lethem is being severely affected after a large section of the Kurupukari to Lethem road collapsed and washed away yesterday during heavy rainfall.

In a statement last evening, the Public Works Ministry announced that it has since dispatched emergency restoration teams and material to the affected area to begin works.

The section of the key roadway collapsed just after 3 o’ clock yesterday afternoon as a truck attempted to cross an eroded section of the roadway within the Iwokrama Concession.

The Ministry said the contractor responsible for the maintenance of the area, KP Thomas, was not on site at the time, and engineers from the Ministry have since alerted all contractors to monitor areas where they have active worksites.

With a section of the road washed away, the Public Works Ministry said the situation will affect all traffic traversing between Georgetown and Annai/Lethem. The affected area is currently inaccessible to all traffic, and all drivers and passengers traveling along the corridor are being told to expect delays.

The Ministry has also put out an advisory for traffic crossing the Pirara Bridge via the Timber Bypass, since the water level has risen significantly within the last 24 hours, covering the approach road and bridge.

Light traffic is requested to exercise extreme caution if attempting to cross the bypass, but the crossing of heavy equipment is not recommended at this time.

Emergency teams have also been mobilized to address that situation, the Ministry has said.

” We ask all drivers traversing the corridor to drive carefully, keeping an eye out for changes in road conditions to ensure the safety of yourself and others. The Ministry is also requesting that all commercial vehicles significantly reduce their load at this time”, the statement from the Public Works Ministry said.

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