A US$161M contract was signed this morning for the reconstruction of the 73km Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

The project will be executed by Namalco Group of Trinidad and Tobago and Guy-America of Guyana. Absheek Engineering of Kuwait will be providing supervisory services for the project to the tune of US$1.7 Million.

During the signing ceremony, President Irfaan Ali said the reconstruction of the highway is part of a broader government policy. 

Describing the signing of the contract as “a significant day in the country’s history”, the President noted that the Highway which was first built almost 60 years is overdue for an upgrade.

“As you know, this highway is integral not only for the connectivity between regions 4 and 10 but it is important because it is one of the main arteries that supports the development in the hinterland communities and wider afield but more importantly, this highway will be linked to other key and critical infrastructure that would expend that productive capacity and land availability and open up new areas,” the President noted.

The reconstruction works are expected to last for two years, and more than three hundred persons are likely to be hired for the project.

The project is being funded through a loan agreement with the Islamic Development Bank.

“This investment is part of a wider menu of investments that is aim at the transformation of our country, the opening up of opportunities, the rebuilding and the expansion of the economy and the integration of different regions within our country,” the President noted.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said the reconstructed highway will be completed with a number of modern features.

As part of the recontruction, the entire highway will be dug up and replaced with new bases to cater for the increase in the number of vehicles that traverse the highway daily. 

When completed the highway is expected to boast of over 2,900 street lights, three roundabouts, 10 bridges and pedestrian bridges at the side of the major bridges.

“The specific objective of getting this highway going is that we have to improve and meet the current transportation demands….Now there are thousands of vehicles on this throughfare every single day, so we have to improve it and we are also putting in place things that meets our future demands,” Edghill noted.

Additionally, the highway will have a separate parking area for trucks and a rest area for drivers who become tired during their trips.

The Soesdyke-Linden Highway was opened in 1969 by then Prime Minister, the late Forbes Burnham. Over the years, more than US$25 Million has been spent on its rehabilitation. It is the key roadway linking the coastland and the hinterland, through the town of Linden.

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