Suriname’s national Road Authority has launched an expedited repair project on a heavily deteriorated section of Tourtonnelaan, a key roadway running between Henck Arronstraat and the main entrance of ‘s Lands Hospital that has been in poor condition for an extended period. The urgent work, which prioritizes traffic safety, is projected to wrap up within just two to three days, pending favorable weather conditions.
Unlike most road upgrades across the country, this project is not part of the Road Authority’s ongoing national roadway rehabilitation program, which currently covers works in Para, Nickerie, and multiple districts of Paramaribo. Officials moved it to the top of the work schedule after recent assessments confirmed the road’s worsening surface condition had created major safety risks for all users, from motorists to pedestrians.
Project manager Joy Meye explained that regular routine inspections of the national road network first flagged the pressing safety concerns on this specific stretch of Tourtonnelaan. “Our daily inspections showed that user safety was being seriously compromised,” Meye noted in a statement. “That’s why we made the call to advance this project as a high priority, so road users can once again count on a safe, long-lasting roadway.”
The repair work follows a clear, methodical process: crews will first remove the existing worn interlocking pavers that cover the entire stretch, then inspect and level the underlying subbase to address foundational issues that caused the surface damage, before laying a completely new set of pavers. The road has long suffered from sunken sections, shifted pavers, and large potholes, problems that have caused consistent traffic disruptions and drawn repeated complaints from commuters.
To minimize disruption to daily travel, project planners have adjusted work schedules to focus primarily outside of peak morning and evening rush hours. Instead of closing the entire roadway for the duration of repairs, crews are only closing part of the route, a decision designed to keep partial traffic flow active through the area. Under the current traffic plan, vehicles traveling from Henck Arronstraat onto Tourtonnelaan cannot access the work zone, but traffic heading northbound is still able to reach Henck Arronstraat without diversion.
Meye emphasized that the accelerated project, which was added to the authority’s workload outside of its pre-planned schedule due to its urgent nature, centers two core goals: lasting safety and long-term durability for the high-traffic roadway.