Editing Transport in Guyana (section)

==Long distance transportation==

===Roads<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/03/21/in-pursuit-of-roads-in-guyana/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150521210437/http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/03/21/in-pursuit-of-roads-in-guyana/| archive-date = 2015-05-21| title = In pursuit of roads in Guyana : Kaieteur News}}</ref><ref>[http://www.guyana.org/gazetteer.pdf  Place names along Guyana's roads]</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.visualgeography.com/categories/guyana/streets.html| title = Streets in Guyana {{!}} Visual Geography}}</ref>===
[[Image:Soesdyke-Linden Highway.jpg|thumb|The [[Soesdyke-Linden Highway]] tends to serve the mining and forestry sectors.]]
In 2004, Guyana's road network was approximately {{convert|3,995|km|mi|sp=us}} long, 24 percent or 940 kilometers of which comprised primary roads in the coastal and riverine areas serving the agricultural sector, while the [[Soesdyke-Linden Highway|road]] to [[Linden, Guyana|Linden]] serves the mining and forestry sectors. 21 percent (820 kilometers) is made up of feeder roads that link the agricultural areas along the coast to the primary road network. The remaining 56 percent (2,235 kilometers) is composed of interior roads and trails. Most access roads are in poor condition. However, the Central Government has targeted several roads for complete rehabilitation, and already many have been rehabilitated.

The main coastal roads are, from west to east, the Essequibo Coast Road, the [[Parika]] to [[Vreed en Hoop]] Road, the East Coast Demerara and West Coast Berbice Roads, and the Corentyne Highway from [[New Amsterdam, Guyana|New Amsterdam]] to [[Moleson Creek]] (86 kilometers). All these roads are paved and their speed limit vary between 50 and 100&nbsp;km/h.

South of Georgetown the primary road is the East Bank Demerara Road, a four-lane road from Rumiveldt to Providence and two-lane from Providence to Timehri Georgetown to Timehri, where the [[Cheddi Jagan International Airport]] - Timehri (CJIAT) is located.

Between 1966 and 1968, Soesdyke, located on the East Bank Demerara Road, was connected to Mackenzie by a modern two lane highway, called the [[Soesdyke-Linden Highway]]. This road was constructed as a section of a highway connecting Georgetown with [[Lethem, Guyana|Lethem]]. In 1968 a bridge was built across the [[Demerara River]] at [[Linden, Guyana|Linden]], and, in 1974, it was decided that the route to Lethem would cross the Demerara River at Linden and go south, along the watershed of the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers, through [[Mabura]], to [[Kurupukari]]. From Kurupukari it would run parallel to the old [[Rupununi Cattle Trail|cattle trail]] to [[Annai, Guyana|Annai]], and from Annai it would follow an already existing road to Lethem.

[[Image:Mabura Road after leaving Linden.jpg|thumb|Mabura Road south of Linden]]In the early 1970s a two-lane road with modern geometry and surfaced with [[laterite]] was built between Linden and [[Rockstone]]. This road was later connected to Mabura and Kurupukari. In 1990-91 a two-lane laterite road was constructed between Kurupukari and Annai and a vehicle ferry installed at Kurupukari. Since there was already an existing road between Mabura and Kurupukari, and between Annai and Lethem, it was now possible for vehicles to travel between Georgetown and Lethem.

In the period 1974 to 1978, an attempt was made to build a road between Rockstone and [[Kurupung]] to facilitate the construction of a large hydroelectric station. From Rockstone it headed north to Suribanna, where a pontoon ferry was installed across the Essequibo River to Sherima. From Sherima the road went westward, intersecting the Bartica - Mahdia Road at Allsopp Point {{convert|19|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} from [[Bartica]]. From Allsopp Point the road followed the existing road towards Bartica and branched off {{convert|5|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on|0}} from Bartica going to Teperu in the lower reaches on the Mazaruni River. At Teperu a pontoon ferry was installed across the Mazaruni River to Itaballi. From Itaballi the road went westward to Peter's Mine on the Puruni River. From Peter's Mine the road continued as a penetration road to Kurupung. This road is referred to as the UMDA Road.

There is in addition a hinterland east–west main road system that extends from [[Kwakwani]] in the east, through Ituni, Linden, Rockstone, Sherima to Bartica in the west. Linden is therefore one of the main hubs for road transportation in the hinterland.

Outside the existing main roads there are several other interior roads or trails that comprise approximately 1,570 kilometers. Most of those roads are unpaved, and will deteriorate if maintenance remains inadequate. They are found mostly in the hinterland and riverain areas and provide linkages with a number of important mining and forestry activities thus facilitating transportation between the mining and forestry communities and the more developed coastal areas. Parts of this road/trail network can be developed into an arterial road system linking the hinterland communities with each other and to the main road network. It is estimated that roads carry 80 percent of Guyana's passenger traffic and about 33 percent of its freight.

Commuters to West Demerara have a choice of road transport via the [[Demerara Harbour Bridge]] or by the Demerara River ferry from the Stabroek Stelling to Vreed en Hoop, which is obliquely opposite.
[[Image:The-new-Mahaicony-bridge.jpg|thumb|[[Mahaicony]] bridge]]
The highway that begins on the West Coast of Demerara is heavily trafficked since it provides a link to Parika on the East Bank of the [[Essequibo River]], which has become an important center of economic activity in the Essequibo region.

It is now possible to travel overland to [[Suriname]] by taking the ferry on the Guyana side at Moleson Creek and crossing the Corentyne River over to Suriname at [[South Drain, Suriname|South Drain]]. While travel to [[Brazil]] is via the old cattle trail it has been upgraded into a fair weather track that passes through the bauxite-producing town of Linden and ending at Lethem.

===Bridges===
[[Image:Demerara Harbour bridge crossing.JPG|thumb|The Demerara Harbour Bridge crosses mouth of the [[Demerara River]]. It is a [[pontoon bridge|floating bridge]].]] The coastal main road system is not continuous. There are gaps whenever it intersects the Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice Rivers. People and goods move across these gaps by ferry systems as well as the [[Demerara Harbour Bridge]] (DHB) and the [[Berbice Bridge]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://opnew.op.gov.gy/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=335%3Apresident-commissions-new-berbice-river-bridge&Itemid=70| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721084803/http://opnew.op.gov.gy/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=335:president-commissions-new-berbice-river-bridge&Itemid=70| archive-date = 2011-07-21| title = President commissions new Berbice River Bridge}}</ref>

The Demerara Harbour Bridge is a two-lane floating toll bridge, {{convert|1.2|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} long, near the mouth of the Demerara River. It is primarily a low-level bridge which possesses an elevated span with a vertical clearance of {{convert|26|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} in the middle of the river to permit small craft to pass. In addition, across the shipping channel, there are two spans which retract to permit the passage of ocean-going vessels. From mid-1998 toll revenue has been credited to the account of the DHB and not to the Government of Guyana, as it was until then. This is a step towards the establishment of the DHB as an autonomous [[statutory authority]]. At present the toll revenue does not meet the operational and maintenance costs of the bridge; the government of Guyana provides considerable subsidy for its upkeep. The bridge has been in existence since 1978 and currently notwithstanding the rigorous maintenance regime, sits at the end of its useful life.

[[Image:LethemBridge.jpg|thumb|left|Construction continues on a bridge linking Guyana and Brazil at Lethem.]]

In 2007, construction resumed on the [[Takutu River Bridge]] to link Guyana and Brazil in the southwest region of Guyana near Lethem. The bridge was officially opened on September 14, 2009, enabling economic interests in northern Brazil to link by road to the port at Georgetown. Unprecedented construction and population growth in Lethem since the bridge's opening reflects the significantly increased traffic and movement of goods facilitated by the bridge. The Takutu Bridge is seen as the first of several joint projects between Guyana and Brazil intended to facilitate cargo traffic: Brazil is expected to subsidize the paving of the Lethem-to-Georgetown road, a development that would have profound impacts on the area's economy and environment. Dredging of the Georgetown port to accommodate deeper-draft cargo  vessels is also being planned.

===Rail transport===
Commercial [[rail transport|railway]] services for both passengers and cargo were operated until 1974. Two lines operated - the [[Demerara-Essequibo Railway]], from Vreed en Hoop to Parika ({{convert|18.5|mi|km|disp=or|order=flip|abbr=on}}) and the [[Demerara-Berbice Railway]], from Georgetown to Rosignol ({{convert|65|mi|km|disp=or|order=flip|abbr=on}}). With the upgrading of the West Coast Demerara/East Bank Essequibo and the East Coast Demerara/West Coast Berbice roadways, the Government decided in the mid-1970s to cease operating the railway services, which were being run at a loss. In the [[Matthew's Ridge]] area, there is a {{convert|32|mi|km|1|order=flip|abbr=on}} railway service.

A railway service was once operated in Linden for the movement of bauxite ore. However trucks are now used to transport the bauxite ore.