分类： infrastructure

A new era of aviation connectivity has dawned for Guyana’s hinterland communities as the first aircraft successfully touched down on the completely reconstructed Aishalton Airstrip on Thursday, December 18, 2025. The landmark event, announced by President Irfaan Ali, represents the culmination of a community participation model project that transforms regional transportation infrastructure.

According to Aviation Minister Deodat Indar, the comprehensive upgrade required an investment of just over GY$1 billion. The newly operational facility boasts a substantial 2,500-foot rigid concrete runway capable of handling regular air traffic. The modernization includes a dedicated parking apron with capacity for two aircraft simultaneously, alongside state-of-the-art safety enhancements comprising precision runway lighting, professional markings, and comprehensive signage systems.

This achievement forms part of a broader governmental initiative to revolutionize transportation access in remote regions. The administration has allocated GY$2.5 billion specifically for the rehabilitation and completion of multiple hinterland airstrips, including strategic locations at Apoteri, Chenapou, Jawalla, and Sand Creek. The Aishalton project serves as a flagship demonstration of this infrastructure development program.

The enhanced airstrip is projected to significantly improve emergency response capabilities, economic opportunities, and social connectivity for the Aishalton community. By reducing isolation and facilitating reliable transport links, the infrastructure upgrade promises to transform healthcare access, educational resources, and commercial exchange for residents who previously faced substantial travel challenges.

Guyana’s Ministry of Public Works has issued firm assurances regarding the structural integrity of the recently inaugurated Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge (BJDRB), following public concerns about visible surface irregularities. Technical investigations confirm that the observed pavement undulations pose no threat to the bridge’s fundamental stability or load-bearing capacity.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill personally inspected the structure on Monday, accompanied by technical experts. During a Facebook Live broadcast from the site, Minister Edghill clarified that the problematic section featuring cracked asphalt is not part of the bridge itself but constitutes the approach road. “Where I am standing here, where you’re seeing this defect in the asphaltic work, it is not even the bridge. This is the road to the bridge,” he emphasized.

Engineering assessments attribute the road surface waviness near the east approach to natural settlement behavior occurring at the transition zone where the road embankment fill meets the concrete abutment structure. The ministry’s statement explained that “differences in material properties between the sand fill and the concrete structure have resulted in varying settlement behavior, leading to a temporary elevation difference.”

Regarding undulations observed on the main bridge’s side spans, investigations confirmed these are merely superficial irregularities limited to the asphalt pavement layer, arising during the construction process. The ministry stressed that these conditions “do not compromise the structural integrity or load-bearing capacity of the bridge.”

The contractor responsible for the $260 million infrastructure project, which was officially opened on October 5, 2025, has been instructed to perform remedial works to restore a smooth driving surface. Minister Edghill characterized such surface issues as not unusual in major construction projects, noting that the observed defects would be promptly corrected.

The ministry’s reassurance comes in response to concerns raised over the weekend by Dorwain Bess, Chairman of the Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC), regarding the structural integrity of the vital transportation link. Officials maintain that continuous monitoring data indicates the bridge “remains safe, stable, and fully reliable for public use,” with the government committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety and travel comfort.