Truck operators on the West Bank of Demerara will soon have a dedicated space to park and service their vehicles, away from residential communities.

The 24-acre facility at Hermitage, Wales, is set to open before the end of 2026.

Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, gave the timeline on Friday while inspecting the site, where works are about 75 per cent complete.

“I can safely say that before 2026 is finished, this truck parking facility at West Bank Demerara, at Hermitage, will be operational,” the minister said.

Six contractors are working across six lots at the site. Four lots are due to be finished within a month and the other two before the year ends.

Works have reached the crusher run stage, and lighting will be installed so that operators can use the facility after normal working hours.

The facility will give truckers and other commercial vehicle owners a set place to park and to carry out servicing and routine maintenance. This is work that often happens in residential neighbourhoods at present.

Hermitage is one of two such facilities planned for Region Three. It forms part of a wider government programme to set up truck parking and automotive service areas across the country.

The facility at Grove, East Bank Demerara, will be the first to open, and its management arrangements will serve as a model for Hermitage.

A management committee will oversee the facilities’ security, maintenance and day-to-day running.

Minister Croal said the fee structure and operating arrangements will be announced in the coming days. The facilities are also expected to create jobs in their daily management and upkeep.