On the morning of June 28, the large-scale reconstruction project of Van ‘t Hogerhuysstraat in Suriname officially launched, marking the start of a transformative 20-month infrastructure upgrade that will reshape connectivity and drainage for the Beekhuizen district and surrounding residential areas.
According to Suriname’s Ministry of Public Works and Spatial Planning, the project will not only widen the existing road into a dual three-lane highway, but also fully replace the aging sewerage and drainage system that currently serves the area. Minister Stephen Tsang, head of the ministry, explained that the upgrade will deliver long-term structural improvements to both traffic flow and flood mitigation, addressing growing pressure on the corridor as the capital region develops.
The project is contracted to local infrastructure firm Kuldipsingh Infra. Preparatory works are scheduled to run through mid-July, including clearing existing culverts, removing blockages from the old drainage network, and implementing temporary traffic measures to keep the route accessible to residents and road users throughout construction.
In a surprise discovery during the initial site inspections, construction crews uncovered massive volumes of illegal waste dumped inside the existing sewer system, ranging from plastic bottles and construction rubble to a large sheet of zinc. Minister Tsang emphasized that this illegal dumping poses a serious threat to the function of any new drainage system, undermining long-term infrastructure performance and increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rain.
In response to this discovery, the ministry is pairing the infrastructure upgrade with a public awareness push to curb improper waste disposal across the country. The Suriname Communication Service confirmed that officials are considering a national “Krin Kondre” (Clean Country) campaign specifically designed to combat littering and illegal dumping of waste in public infrastructure. Minister Tsang added that he prefers community service sentences over solely financial fines for littering offenders, arguing that punitive work assignments create a stronger deterrent and help restore public spaces affected by improper waste disposal.
Kuldipsingh Infra project manager Rodney Wongsosoeparto outlined the project timeline moving forward: after preparatory works wrap up, crews will begin installing new sewer lines, rebuilding the road foundation, and finally completing the road widening works to deliver the dual three-lane corridor. To minimize disruption to daily commutes and local residents, the majority of construction activity will be scheduled during evening and overnight hours, with round-the-clock shift work being used to speed up project delivery and reduce the overall construction period.
Officials have issued a public notice urging road users and nearby residents to plan ahead for temporary road closures, detours and minor traffic disruptions over the 20-month construction period, asking for public patience as the transformative project is completed.
Minister Tsang stressed that the reconstruction project extends far beyond basic traffic infrastructure upgrades. The Van ‘t Hogerhuysstraat corridor holds strategic importance for Suriname’s ongoing economic development, particularly for the country’s growing oil and gas sector, and the upgrade will improve overall connectivity across the capital region to support future growth. “This is not just a road project — it’s an investment in Suriname’s long-term economic and livability goals,” the minister noted.