Work on the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded road project will not be severely affected by the death of consultant Dr Gowkarran Budhu.

Budhu, the key consultant on the main road rehabilitation programme Phase II dealing with road safety, died on Sunday in Barbados following a prolonged illness during which he had to be flown out for special treatment.

Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday, Communication Consultant in the Ministry of Public Works, Ajay Baksh said that although Budhu’s death was a loss to the ministry and the project, Budhu had trained as part of his contract a core of persons who were equally capable of continuing his work.

Baksh acknowledged that the ministry because of his vast experience and unique talent would miss Budhu.

During his absence over the last two months as a result of his deteriorating health, several young members of his team had carried on the work of the project.

Related to this, bids were advertised in the Sunday Stabroek inviting interested parties to apply for contracts to erect signage and paint safety signals along the stretch of road from Georgetown to Buxton, previously identified as dangerous for drivers.

Among the safety measures being considered is the erection of bus stops and traffic signs.

The successful applicant would also be required to paint solid and skip traffic stripes along the centre line of the route and at paved intersections as well as solid stripes along the edges of the route as well as pedestrian and school crossings.

The project also requires the contractor to place reflector spikes on the centre line, edges and along the curves on the route.