Over 800 meters of riprap sea-defense works have been completed on the West Coast of Demerara, Guyana, reports the Department of Public Information.
According to the DPI, the project, which commenced in November 2017, was completed in three phases. BK International has executed 300 and 260 meters respectively of riprap sea-defense in two phases and Toolsie Persaud Construction completed another 300 meters.
Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Project Coordinator, Dennis Ramsingh said that the works were critical due to the rapid degradation of the mangrove trees over the years.
“ Had government not taken the intervention to construct riprap sea-defenses then there would have been lots of damage and breaches of the embankment. That would have caused inundation to immediate residential agricultural land. But because we were monitoring the area over some time, we had seen the need to take this intervention early ,” Ramsingh explained.
The project entailed excavation of the seaward slope to construct the slope and toe and the riprap structures which involved excavation, sand filling, placement of geotextile fabric, underlayer and the armor stone which is the finished structure. Ramsingh also pointed out that similar works were also completed at Windsor Forest.
The project was completed ahead of schedule and entailed excavation of the foreshore, to construct the toe and lower slope, sand filling to construct the upper slope, crest and embankment works were also included.
According to Ramsingh, the areas in Den Amstel, Uitvlugt and Leonora that were flooded earlier in the year due to severe overtopping will also see improvement. Ramsingh indicated that the ministry has already prepared the designs, contracts have been awarded and physical work will commence shortly. These will also be executed in phases.