Imbert: Interchange to start this month

Reminded that in June this year he had promised that the project was firmly scheduled to start this month, Imbert said "at this point in time it is still to happen."

"The plan is to start on or before December 31, and unless for any event which I have not seen, it will start." He said a contract has been awarded to Seereeram Brothers for the first phase of the project, which involves earth works. He expects that the contractor will be on site in two weeks.

The project is under the portfolio of the newly formed National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCO) which is responsible for inviting tenders for the project.

In June, Imbert said the ministry had chosen the final design from Canadian consultants, Cansult. He said ministry technocrats had chosen what was considered the best solution to the traffic woes experienced by motorists at the Churchill Roosevelt and Uriah Butler Highways intersection. He claimed it would not be fancy, and as "cost effective as possible." It is expected that the project will be completed by June 2007. The project was first raised by the Opposition UNC when it was in government. When the PNM came into government, the idea was shelved but later revisited by former works minister, Franklin Khan, as a feasible means to alleviating traffic.