Aubrey Barker to Ogle connector road to be completed by month end – Edghill

Following delays caused by the relocation of persons and water network mains, expansion works to connect the Aubrey Barker Road in South Ruimveldt to the Ogle Highway are progressing and are set to be completed by the end of January.

This latest update was given by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill during a site visit alongside his technical team on Saturday. “We want to get it done by the end of this month,” he said.

The $1.45 billion expansion project includes the four-lane upgrade of the Aubrey Barker Road, complete with medians, bicycle lanes, walkways, bridges, and improved drainage. A key feature will be the new bridge that links Aubrey Barker Road directly to the Ogle–Eccles Highway, creating a vital east–west connection to ease traffic and improve access across the city.

According to Edghill, there is only one section remaining (Lot 26) to be completed. The works there were stalled due to the relocation of residents.

A senior official of the Ministry of Housing’s Central Planning and Housing Authority (CHPA) disclosed on Saturday that 19 persons in total – all illegal settlers – had to be relocated to facilitate the road works.

“All the persons for this particular section have been removed. They have been properly relocated, and the settlement programme for most of them are currently ongoing. At the moment, there is no hindrance in relation to relocation of informal settlers along this path. And we must say that the Ministry of Public Work has been very patient with us as we dealt with the social aesthetics that was needed to get these persons relocated,” the CHPA official noted.

He further explained that while there are still other settlers dwelling along the road alignment, those persons have been “pushed back to ensure that the project proceeds without any hindrance.”

GWI transmission line

The other issue that caused the delays in the road works was the relocation of a major Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) transmission line that ran on the path of the road project.

That line, according to a GWI representative, had to be removed from the centre of the carriageway to the road shoulder at a depth that was beyond the structural integral of the road.

“So, we had to relocate straight down [the Aubrey Barker Road, about] 560 metres. We had to do crossings at various points, and most of it is completed. We have to build one [other] chamber,” the GWI representative noted.

With these two issues already addressed, the contractor had recommenced work on the expanded road. In fact, on Saturday, they were scheduled to lay the crusher run on the surface, but this was stalled due to the weather.

“Unfortunately, we had some rainfall this morning, but other than that, once the weather comes out, the work will be finished. We’re hoping for this month end [to complete the works],” the contractor indicated.

According to Minister Edghill, the contractor had initially planned to finish the progress before Christmas, but the GWI relocations obstructed them from meeting that timeline.
“So, that is what we are working with. Based upon the timelines of what needs to be done, two weeks of work, but catering for the season that we’re in. We want to get this done. We missed getting it done for Christmas; we were pushing for that. But we want to get it done by the end of this month,” the Public Works Minister noted.

Moreover, Edghill also disclosed plans to work with the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry to upgrade the market area in South Ruimveldt, including painting and fixing some of the internal walkways.

Additionally, he said that his ministry will be constructing a tarmac nearby and will have those roadside vendors who were removed from along the Aubrey Barker Road relocated there.

“So, we want to be able to get this completed and open up this road. And as a major, major connector, getting you all the way [from Mandela Avenue] to the Ogle-Eccles interlink, and I think this would make life much better for the people in the area,” Edghill stated.

During a visit to the project site back in October 2025, President Dr Irfaan Ali had explained that this new four-lane expansion along the Aubrey Barker Road was designed to significantly improve traffic flow and connectivity across major urban and residential areas.

The President emphasised that with the completion of this section, commuters will soon be able to travel from Ogle to Mandela Avenue on continuous four-lane roads, easing congestion and improving accessibility for thousands of daily road users.

When combined with existing and ongoing expansions, the infrastructure will total 12 lanes of connected roadway between Eccles, Mandela, and Ogle – forming part of the Government’s broader vision for a modern, interconnected urban corridor. This development, President Ali noted, reflects the Government’s aggressive drive toward national modernisation and urban transformation.

The President also revealed that Government planners are looking ahead to even greater integration of transport infrastructure. He reaffirmed that these massive infrastructure projects – from new four-lane highways to potential rail systems – represent the foundation for a new urban Guyana, one that supports sustained economic growth, new housing zones, and faster, safer travel.