East-West Link (Suriname)
Encyclopedia
The East-West Link (Dutch
: Oost-Westverbinding) is a road in Suriname
between Albina
in the eastern part of the country to Nieuw Nickerie in the western part, via the capital city of Paramaribo
. The southern East-West Link connects Paramaribo with Apoera
via Bitagron
. Construction of the road link started in the 1960s.
spanning the Nickerie River
. In 1980, a bridge was built on the Commewijne River
near Stolkertsijver
. Since 1999, the Coppename Bridge
connects Jenny
with Boskamp
, and since 2000 the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge
connects Paramaribo
with Meerzorg
. On the southern East-West Link, bailey bridge
s spanning the Coppename River
and Nickerie River were built near Bitagron
and Kamp 52 respectively.
The bridge spanning the Saramacca River
between Hamburg and Uitkijk was opened on 25 June 2011.
. Various revitalization projects have been started.
was not paved until recently. The European Union
funded the reconstruction, which started in 2007, with 13.2 million euro. The section was due to be completed in the first quarter of 2010.
There is a jeep trail
between South Drain and Apoera, connecting the Northern East-West Link with the Southern East-West Link. Contrary to earlier plans, the pavement of this road is not imminent.
and Albina
, is being repaved with funds from the European Union, the Agence Française de Développement and the Inter-American Development Bank
. In August 2009, a Project Executing Unit (PEU) was installed, whose task it is to safeguard quality guidelines, project planning, and the total budget of USD 140 million. The project entails a total section of 138 kilometres and the rehabilitation is planned to be finished in 30 months’ time. The reconstruction will adhere to the standards of the Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America (IIRSA).
In March 2010, the Dutch company MNO Vervat was to begin repaving the road between Tamanredjo
(km 20,5) and Moengo
(km 95). The section between Moengo and Albina (km 138) will be repaved by the Chinese company Dalian. The tender for the section between Meerzorg (km 0) and Tamanredjo will be put out in 2011. The road will be widened in several places and cycling lanes will be added in built-up areas.
in Venezuela via San Martín de Turumbang, Linden
and Apoera
with Paramaribo
. The project includes the building of a bridge on the Courantyne River
between Apoera
and Orealla
in Guyana
. According to a study by Pitou van Dijk, the Linden-Paramaribo section has only secondary priority with IIRSA at the moment.
on the western side since 1998, connecting South Drain with Moleson Creek
. In the east there is a ferry between Albina and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
in French Guyana since 1969.
Within the framework of the IIRSA, the Suriname Planning Bureau has done some studies on the incorporation of the East-West Link in the Pan-American Highway
. Suriname has been part of the Pan-American Highway project since 1982. Apart from the reconstruction of the East West Link as described above, a feasibility study has been started for a bridge between Suriname and French Guyana. Also a North-South Link connection Suriname with Brazil via the Vier Gebroeders mountains is considered.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: Oost-Westverbinding) is a road in Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
between Albina
Albina, Suriname
Albina is a town in eastern Suriname, and is capital of the Marowijne District. The town lies on the west bank of the Marowijne river , which forms the border with French Guiana, directly opposite the French Guianan town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, to which it is connected by a frequent ferry...
in the eastern part of the country to Nieuw Nickerie in the western part, via the capital city of Paramaribo
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
. The southern East-West Link connects Paramaribo with Apoera
Apoera
Apoera, also Apura, is a town in western Suriname. It is the final destination of the Southern East-West Link. north-west on the other side of the Courantyne River lies the Guyanese village of Orealla...
via Bitagron
Bitagron
Bitagron or Witagron is a town in Suriname on the Coppename River at the crossing of the Southern East-West Link from Paramaribo to Apoera in West-Suriname.In the local language Bitagron means 'Land of my forefathers'....
. Construction of the road link started in the 1960s.
Overview
Bridges
In recent years, various ferries on the East-West Link route have been replaced with bridges. There is a bridge near Groot HenarGroot Henar
Groot Henar is a resort in Suriname, located in the Nickerie District. Its population at the 2004 census was 3,545.-References:...
spanning the Nickerie River
Nickerie River
The Nickerie is a river in the northwestern part of Suriname.The river rises in the Bakhuys Mountains and then flows to the North where it forms part of the border between the Coronie and Nickerie districts...
. In 1980, a bridge was built on the Commewijne River
Commewijne River
Commewijne River is a river in northern Suriname .It originates in the hills of the Commewijne District and flows northwards until it receives the meandering Cottica River from the right and then runs westward until it unites with the south-north running Suriname River at Nieuw Amsterdam...
near Stolkertsijver
Stolkertsijver
Stolkertsijver is a town in the Commewijne District of Suriname. It is situated on the East-West Link. At Stolkertsijver, a bridge spanning the Commewijne River was built in 1980....
. Since 1999, the Coppename Bridge
Coppename Bridge
The Coppename Bridge is a bridge over the Coppename River in Suriname, part of the East-West Link.The bridge links Jenny in the Coronie District with Boskamp in the Saramacca District...
connects Jenny
Jenny, Suriname
Jenny is a town on the East-West Link in Suriname, located in the Coronie district. It lies on the mouth of the Coppename River opposite the town of Boskamp, to which it is linked by the Coppename bridge....
with Boskamp
Boskamp, Suriname
Boskamp is a town on the East-West Link in Suriname, located in the central north of the country, in the Saramacca District. It lies opposite to Jenny, to which it is connected via the Coppename bridge....
, and since 2000 the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge
Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge
The Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge , also called Suriname bridge, is a bridge over the Suriname river between the capital city Paramaribo and Meerzorg in the Commewijne District. The bridge is part of the East-West Link, and is named after former president Jules Wijdenbosch...
connects Paramaribo
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
with Meerzorg
Meerzorg
Meerzorg is a town in Suriname, located on the eastern bank of the Suriname River, directly opposite the capital Paramaribo. Its population at the 2004 census was 8,115. Since 2000 it has been connected to Paramaribo by the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge, named after the former President Jules...
. On the southern East-West Link, bailey bridge
Bailey bridge
The Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed by the British during World War II for military use and saw extensive use by both British and the American military engineering units....
s spanning the Coppename River
Coppename River
The Coppename is a river in Suriname in the district of Sipaliwini, forming part of the boundary between the districts of Coronie and Saramacca.-Course:The Coppename river begins in the Wilhelmina Mountains...
and Nickerie River were built near Bitagron
Bitagron
Bitagron or Witagron is a town in Suriname on the Coppename River at the crossing of the Southern East-West Link from Paramaribo to Apoera in West-Suriname.In the local language Bitagron means 'Land of my forefathers'....
and Kamp 52 respectively.
The bridge spanning the Saramacca River
Saramacca River
Saramacca River is a river in Suriname . Arawaks named this river "Surama", and today's name "Saramacca" is probably derived from it. It originates in the Wilhelmina Mountains and flows northwards and enters the Atlantic Ocean together with Coppename River. It has a river basin of 9.400 km² and...
between Hamburg and Uitkijk was opened on 25 June 2011.
Reconstruction
The road is in a bad state on several parts of the route, partly due to damage because of the Suriname Guerrilla WarSuriname Guerrilla War
The Suriname Guerrilla War was a war in Suriname between 1986 and 1992 which was fought between then-army chief Dési Bouterse and the Jungle Commando of his former bodyguard Ronnie Brunswijk, who originated from the Maroon social group....
. Various revitalization projects have been started.
Western East-West Link
A 32-kilometre-long section between Nieuw Nickerie and the ferry near South DrainSouth Drain
South Drain, also Zuiddrain, is a town in western Suriname. Since the pavement of road section to Nieuw Nickerie, it is the final destination of the northern East-West Link. The European Union funded the reconstruction, which started in 2007, with 13.2 million euro. The section was opened on 30...
was not paved until recently. The European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
funded the reconstruction, which started in 2007, with 13.2 million euro. The section was due to be completed in the first quarter of 2010.
There is a jeep trail
Jeep trail
Roads that are only suitable for off-road vehicles are often called jeep trails.The most famous is the Rubicon Trail located near Lake Tahoe in California. The so-called "Jeep Trail Capital of the World," however, is Ouray, Colorado...
between South Drain and Apoera, connecting the Northern East-West Link with the Southern East-West Link. Contrary to earlier plans, the pavement of this road is not imminent.
Eastern East-West Link
The eastern part of the East-West Link, that is the section between MeerzorgMeerzorg
Meerzorg is a town in Suriname, located on the eastern bank of the Suriname River, directly opposite the capital Paramaribo. Its population at the 2004 census was 8,115. Since 2000 it has been connected to Paramaribo by the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge, named after the former President Jules...
and Albina
Albina, Suriname
Albina is a town in eastern Suriname, and is capital of the Marowijne District. The town lies on the west bank of the Marowijne river , which forms the border with French Guiana, directly opposite the French Guianan town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, to which it is connected by a frequent ferry...
, is being repaved with funds from the European Union, the Agence Française de Développement and the Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean...
. In August 2009, a Project Executing Unit (PEU) was installed, whose task it is to safeguard quality guidelines, project planning, and the total budget of USD 140 million. The project entails a total section of 138 kilometres and the rehabilitation is planned to be finished in 30 months’ time. The reconstruction will adhere to the standards of the Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America (IIRSA).
In March 2010, the Dutch company MNO Vervat was to begin repaving the road between Tamanredjo
Tamanredjo
Tamanredjo is a resort and town in Suriname, located in the Commewijne District. Its population at the 2004 census was 5,510....
(km 20,5) and Moengo
Moengo
Moengo is a town in Suriname, located in the Marowijne district, between Paramaribo and the border town Albina. In former times it was a major centre for the mining and storage of bauxite...
(km 95). The section between Moengo and Albina (km 138) will be repaved by the Chinese company Dalian. The tender for the section between Meerzorg (km 0) and Tamanredjo will be put out in 2011. The road will be widened in several places and cycling lanes will be added in built-up areas.
Southern East-West Link
Suriname aims for reconstructing the Southern East-West Link (Paramaribo-Zanderij-Bitagron-Apoera) between 2010 and 2015. In the IIRSA project, this road is part of Group 3 of the Guyana Shield Hub region, which links Ciudad GuayanaCiudad Guayana
Ciudad Guayana is a city in Bolívar State, Venezuela. It lies south of the Orinoco, where the river is joined by the Caroní River. The city, officially founded in 1961, is actually composed of the old town of San Félix at the east and the new town of Puerto Ordaz at the west, which lie either...
in Venezuela via San Martín de Turumbang, Linden
Linden, Guyana
Linden is the second largest town in Guyana after Georgetown, and capital of the Upper Demerara-Berbice region, located at , altitude 48 metres . It was declared a town in 1970, and includes the communities of MacKenzie and Wismar. It lies on the Demerara River and has a population of roughly...
and Apoera
Apoera
Apoera, also Apura, is a town in western Suriname. It is the final destination of the Southern East-West Link. north-west on the other side of the Courantyne River lies the Guyanese village of Orealla...
with Paramaribo
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
. The project includes the building of a bridge on the Courantyne River
Courantyne River
The Corentyne / Courantyne / Corantijn River is a river in northern South America in the country of Suriname, it is the longest river in the state. The river originates in the Acarai Mountains and flows northward for approximately between Guyana and Suriname, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near...
between Apoera
Apoera
Apoera, also Apura, is a town in western Suriname. It is the final destination of the Southern East-West Link. north-west on the other side of the Courantyne River lies the Guyanese village of Orealla...
and Orealla
Orealla
Orealla is an American Indian community in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region of Guyana, on the Courantyne River, approximately south of Crabwood Creek and north of Epira, located at , altitude 11 metres...
in Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
. According to a study by Pitou van Dijk, the Linden-Paramaribo section has only secondary priority with IIRSA at the moment.
Connections with neighbouring countries
The East-West Link has a ferry connection with GuyanaGuyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
on the western side since 1998, connecting South Drain with Moleson Creek
Moleson Creek
Moleson Creek is a community on the Corentyne River in the East Berbice-Corentyne region of Guyana, located at . It is north of Orealla Mission, 10km south of Corriverton, and approximately 90 km from New Amsterdam....
. In the east there is a ferry between Albina and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is one of the two sub-prefectures of French Guiana and the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni...
in French Guyana since 1969.
Within the framework of the IIRSA, the Suriname Planning Bureau has done some studies on the incorporation of the East-West Link in the Pan-American Highway
Pan-American Highway
The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads measuring about in total length. Except for an rainforest break, called the Darién Gap, the road links the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system. According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's...
. Suriname has been part of the Pan-American Highway project since 1982. Apart from the reconstruction of the East West Link as described above, a feasibility study has been started for a bridge between Suriname and French Guyana. Also a North-South Link connection Suriname with Brazil via the Vier Gebroeders mountains is considered.
See also
- Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America (IIRSA)