World Bank approves US$156 Million project to enhance Guyana’s road network

The World Bank has approved a new project to support Guyana in upgrading and rehabilitating the country’s road infrastructure. The US$156 million Integrated Transport Corridors Project will focus on enhancing Guyana’s transport network in select regions to ensure it is better equipped to withstand natural hazards and provide safer, more reliable mobility for people.

In a release, the Washington-based World Bank said Guyana’s road infrastructure faces several challenges, particularly in the coastal regions, where roads are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events.

It noted that over 60% of the road network consists of smaller roads, many of which sit on the low-lying coastal plain, making the road network highly exposed to the impacts of rising sea levels, increased rainfall intensity, and more frequent extreme weather events like storms and flooding.

The Bank recalled that the most recent flooding event in 2021 caused over US$100 million in damage to the agriculture and transport sectors.

It stated that the poor road conditions hinder access to essential services like healthcare and education, disrupt economic activities, and isolate communities. Further, it said the road safety situation in Guyana is concerning, with a road mortality rate of 15 deaths per 100,000 population.

“The project will focus on upgrading and rehabilitating key road corridors in selected regions of Guyana, with a particular emphasis on improving resilience to natural hazards. It will implement critical infrastructure improvements such as enhancing drainage systems, stabilizing slopes, and raising embankments to prevent erosion to safeguard vital transport links that support agriculture, tourism, trade, and access to essential services like healthcare and education,” the World Bank noted.

The project is also expected to prioritize road safety and inclusivity, which includes the safety assessment of the entire primary road network and road safety audits for selected roads, followed by the installation of road safety engineering solutions like crash barriers and traffic calming measures, and the creation of dedicated lanes for non-motorized transport, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

Under the project, special attention will be given to high-risk locations like schools, hospitals, and markets.

“Guyana’s rapid economic expansion places increasing pressure on infrastructure, while the growing risks from natural hazards, such as flooding and storms, further challenge the country’s systems. This project will help Guyana’s road network keep pace with its growth by making it safer and more resilient,” the World Bank noted.

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