The Essequibo Coast Public Road, the main land artery linking Supenaam to Charity, is slated for major upgrades in 2026 as the government moves to tackle congestion, improve road safety, and strengthen the flow of people and produce across Region Two.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Madanlall Ramraj, made the announcement.
Ramraj said the Supenaam–Charity corridor is Region Two’s primary transportation route and the only major road connection serving multiple communities along the Essequibo Coast, supporting daily commuting, commerce, and the movement of goods and services.
Under the 2026 programme, the government is prioritising a conversion from a two-lane road to a four-lane dual carriageway, a shift Ramraj described as critical given increasing traffic volumes and the region’s role in national economic integration, especially for agriculture, fishing, and trade-linked communities.
A major focus, Ramraj said, is correcting long-standing design gaps that now put pedestrians, vendors and motorists in conflict, particularly near schools, markets, and built-up areas.
He said the existing road lacks dedicated pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes, and proper parking facilities, creating unsafe interactions among vehicles, pedestrians, and roadside vending activity, conditions that contribute to frequent traffic conflicts and accidents.
To address these issues, Ramraj said the 2026 plan includes the construction of sidewalks to better protect pedestrians and reduce roadside exposure. He said bus bays are also part of the upgrades to prevent public transport from stopping in live traffic lanes, while designated parking areas will be created to reduce roadside encroachment and disorderly stopping.
Ramraj added that the project will introduce clearer separation between pedestrian and vehicular traffic to significantly improve safety, along with improved traffic management measures aimed at reducing congestion and limiting unsafe roadside activity.
Beyond commuter traffic, Ramraj linked the roadway upgrade directly to economic outcomes, arguing that a modernised Supenaam–Charity route will strengthen market access and logistics for farmers and residents, including communities connected to the Pomeroon.
He said smoother traffic flow, reduced travel times and lower transport costs would support better farm-gate outcomes and improve competitiveness for Region Two producers, allowing more reliable access to higher-value markets along the Essequibo Coast and beyond.
Ramraj also pointed to a wider transport integration push, noting that the upgraded road corridor is expected to work alongside improved river transport, particularly with the introduction of the government vessel, MV Konawaruk 1899, to support a more seamless link between the Pomeroon and Supenaam.
Together, he said, the road upgrade and enhanced river transport will help form a more connected “road-to-river” network, bringing riverine communities deeper into national economic activity and expanding access to commercial centres and markets for farmers, fishers and residents across the region.
