By Shabna Ullah
Although there have been delays in the construction of the Berbice Bridge, officials are confident that the September deadline would be met.Yesterday, officials from the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) and the contractors, Bosch Rexroth and Mabey & Johnson took the media on its second tour of the structure. The first tour was held on October 18 last year when only one span [span three] had been installed.
Bert Carter, chairman of the technical team said 18 spans, including the high span have already been installed out of a total of 39.
The original design of the bridge, which is said to have a lifespan of over 30 years and costs almost US$40 M, was for the high span to be positioned on the western end of the bridge.
But the design was adjusted for the high span to be placed at the eastern end and the erection of the platform for the high span is still in progress.
The change was made to facilitate a better flow of the river traffic.
The last section of the bridge to be constructed is the retractor span. Carter said that upon the completion of the high span, maritime traffic, especially from the bauxite company, Oldendorf would be able to pass under the high span unimpeded as installation of the other spans continues.The height under the retractor span is 40 feet while the distance between the two pontoons that support the high span is 120 feet. The high span would have to be linked to sloping spans on both ends.
According to Carter, the contractors are experiencing difficulties pushing the anchor to the required depth at the eastern end as the soil on the river bed is too hard.
Asked about walkways being erected on the bridge, chairman of BBCI, Geeta Singh-Knight stated that it “would not be practical and feasible…”
The company would be mobilizing and training almost 60 staff to manage and maintain the bridge for the next 21 years.
Singh-Knight said that the contractor would be handing over a fully lit bridge, including on the high span [and under high span for the ships] and retractor span as well as lighting on both ends of the access roads.
Navigation lights would also be installed on the cluster piles that were installed to guide vessels under the high spans and to protect the structure from accidental collisions.
Rawleston Adams, senior engineer with the Ministry of Public Works stated that the contract for the road project was signed for US$8.7 M and is undertaken by Dipcon Contracting Company. He said the access road on the D’ Edward end is about 70% completed while the road at the eastern end is approximately 40% completed.
He pointed out that the road is expected to be completed in two phases – the asphalt project by the first week in September, in time for the commencement of the bridge operations.
The contract completion, he said is set for April 2009, “giving the contractor another six months in terms of tidying up to install street lights and mark the road…”
Adams said the Palmyra and Crab Island road have already been linked and recently a truck drove from one end to the other.
He noted that while sourcing reef sand has been a hindrance, the contractors have the weather in their favour and they are trying to make maximum use of it.
BBCI’s six common shareholders are Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO), the NIS, the Hand in Hand Fire Insurance Company, Secure Inter-national Finance, Demerara Engineers & Contractors Limited (a subsidiary of DDL), and New GPC.
Other investors in the project are Republic Bank Limited, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Citizen Bank, Demerara Bank, Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), Hand in Hand Trust Corporation, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the New Building Society (NBS).
The average toll for a vehicle will be around $1,400 [costs would vary for different classes of vehicles] but no charge will be levied for individual passengers. This amount was calculated on the basis of a formula intended to secure sufficient revenue to cover all operating and maintenance costs, return on investment and repayment on financing.
Singh-Knight said that the contract amounts are fixed and changes in procurement costs wouldn’t change anything. She said that BBCI hopes to use an automated system or an easy-pass system rather than paper ticket payment of tolls.
BBCI Company Secretary Winston Brassington said that the Highway Code will apply to the operation of the bridge and vehicles will be weighed.
Vehicle would be allowed to cross with up to 40 tonnes.
The company will hand over the bridge to the Government in 21 years.
Carter said when completed, the bridge will be the sixth longest floating bridge in the world at 1,570.719 metres.
He noted that the Demerara Harbour Bridge is the fourth longest of its kind in the world.
The bridge will be shorter than the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the width will be the same, about 22 feet.
The surface of the bridge is coated with an epoxy resin and then overlaid with calcined bauxite, making the bridge virtually skid free.
The bridge will be located downstream of the existing ferry route, starting from the village of D’Edward on the western bank to Crab Island on the eastern bank where the width of the crossing is 1.5 kilometres.
The MMA compound at Rosignol has been specially prepared for the site office, de-stuffing of containers, storage of bridge components, assembly of bridge spans and the pre-assembly or launching pad.
A generator building at D’Edward, the preliminary designs for the toll plaza, the operation and maintenance building and public facilities have also been completed.
Good news, at last.
Although the deadline is not far away, please ensure you don;t compromise on safety and quality despite what any one thinks.
The consequences of compromise will be far worse than not meeting the deadline. I’m very excited about the bridge, but please please please get the job done right once.
A bridge across the Berbice River is most welcome. Even though this project is a private venture, the PPP was forced to act to make it a reality. You see, the pressure was unrelenting on the current administration to do something great – great like what Burnham did; bridging the Demerara River.
All is not well with the Berbice Bridge. It has far less supporting pontoons than what is required. One has to realize that pontoons of a floating bridge are like ribs of an umbrella. The more pontoons there are the lesser the risk for the bridge to stay afloat.
Let us do not make the mistake and scrap the ferry service. In fact, I suspect that the owners of the bridge would try their best to drive the ferry out of business and monopolize the crossing of the Berbice River in their favour. Guyanese would then have to “pay through their nose”. Let’s do not become too excited with this bridge. A lot of us would not be able to pay the tolls to use it, and may once again have to resort to “balahoo” and punts to cross the Berbice River. Talk about bridge, I don’t know how to show you guys some pictures, but Ballast Nedam built 2 bridges for the Government of Suriname – one across the Copenaam River and one across the Paramaribo (Suriname) River. They are solid concrete structures that have become major tourist’s attractions. The maintenance cost is virtually 0, and the fare is a mere token.
Mainlandweb
(Red Lion)
Excellent going Guyana, an important vision for the people of Guyana and especially Berbice being finally realised. Come September, no more hassles with the horrible boat system now there. Berbice get ready for mass development, the bridge will definitely make things much easier for farm produce and people conducting business between Corentyne and GT. The bad news is the gunmen, bandits and terrorists will now have a speedy access to unprotected people on the Corentyne. I remembered during the PNC days Burnham pasted posters all over the country and on the stellings advertising a road or something with a photo attached saying “PNC made this possible”. I suggest the present government do something similar to advertise the developments that have taken place since 1992, the new roads, schools, modern bridges, etc, (too much to mention), because some negative people only see the bad things going on in the country which is not the government’s doing, only their responsibility to prevent. So now, Mr. President, we look forward to the train from GT to Lethem/Brazil border. Prove to the naysayers that you can emulate Mr. Flagler. CONGRATULATIONS, LET’S GO FORWARD GUYANA.
We indeed have to be cautious of the arrangements made for the management and operation of the bridge; especially with single crossings starting at $1,400 per car (I hope the return trip is free). We can reach a situation where it will indeed be too expensive for the average citizen to drive over twice or 4 times a day depending on his/her need. It seems that pedestrians will not be allowed on the bridge and so too may pedal cyclists and other similar types of traffic (including carts, etc.) so the ferry service will indeed still be very much required.
Guyana has waited far too long for this accomplishment,Any king of bridge is better than no bridge at all.I remember waiting 6 hrs on the ferry.Will miss those days for sure.Now this government have to figure out how to solve this crime situation then I’ll think of visiting
Oh yeah…i for one am very happy hear this. Having to cross the Berbice river to go up to Corentyne is a nightmare…there’s always a long line of vehicles waiting to cross.
This will certainly bring some relief .
Why so much secrecy on this bridge building, anyone could have approached the Takutu bridge and take pictures of it . This controlled tour once every six months by a selected few is not good PR they have to be more open. I travelled on that Suriname bridge all tolls have been removed. I later found out that the bridge was built with internal (in country) funds.all has been repaid on time.
This is a development in the right direction. Like others, it should be managed in a sustainable manner; efficiently and profitably, always with the best interest of users in mind.
This project can help stimulate economic and social development in the country. However, the other related issues of governance; crime prevention, strengthening and reform of the judiciary, activation and militancy of the various parliamentary commissions, removal of the authoritarian powers of the president with the neccessary checks and balance etc; are inseparable and essential elements in forging optimism in the future of the country.
Placing the interest of the nation before party or partisan objectives, will bring the development and harmony the society needs and deserves.
Great news for us who waited hours to cross