Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill has announced that several stalls located on the government reserve along Dennis Street, opposite the ‘B’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown entrance, will be moved to allow for the advancement of major road works in the community.
According to the minister, the government has engaged a contractor to carry out a full upgrade of ‘B’ Field Sophia, similar to ongoing works in ‘E’ Field Sophia. The $1,524,480,500 contract was awarded to Eron Lall Civil Engineering Works and is expected to be completed in 12 months. In addition, the Dennis Street corridor has been earmarked for expansion, with plans for two lanes on the existing Dennis Street and two additional lanes on the opposite side of the trench.
“We have sought to remove all encumbrances on the reserve or on the carriageway,” Minister Edghill explained.
He noted that the ministry has been addressing long-standing encroachments where individuals have been conducting business or vending along the roadway.
To ensure that vendors are not displaced, the minister said the government will construct tarmacs to transition vendors from the roadway to safer areas.
“So nobody is being moved and put out of business. They can continue their business, whether it is selling groceries or greens,” Edghill stated.
However, the minister highlighted an ongoing challenge involving two stalls that have been unoccupied for an extended period.
“We have been trying to make contact with the owners or the persons concerned, and we have not been able to do so,” he said.
The removal of these stalls is necessary to accommodate a long-haul trailer transporting sheet piles for the ‘B’ Field project, as the trucks need sufficient space to turn into the roadway. Minister Edghill appealed to the owners to urgently contact the Ministry of Public Works.
“Please make contact with the ministry, if you are the owners, because the instruction to the contractor with immediate effect is to start demolishing it,” he highlighted.
The minister also disclosed that seven other stalls along the corridor have already been removed after being found abandoned, overgrown with grass, and left unattended for a considerable period.
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