As persons anxiously await the opening of the Berbice River Bridge, to light vehicular traffic this morning, workers of Dipcon were yesterday adding the finishing touches to make the eastern approach “drivable.”
The approach road at the Crab Island end of the Berbice Bridge yesterday.
When this newspaper visited the site it was raining heavily. Workers of Dipcon Contracting Company were removing grade ‘C’ crusher run at the Palmyra end and replacing it with ‘A’ grade crusher run to make the road more compact.
Over at Crab Island some of the workers warned this reporter to be careful in case “you sink down in the soft mud up to yuh knees”. There also they were planning to replace the soppy substance with the ‘A’ grade crusher run.
It was observed that immediately after the section where the crusher-run was applied at Palmyra, there was one lane of asphalt up to a point. This continued with a section of reef sand only. At the Crab Island end, two lanes of asphalt were in place, just before the muddy approach.
A layer of ‘A’ grade crusher run, which was laid at the Palmyra end of the Berbice River bridge yesterday.
Meantime, the workers said while they were trying their best to make the road accessible to the public for today it would cause a setback.
“They [authorities] are trying to force the bridge to open and if they want the road we would give them the road. But the vehicles would only damage the road especially in all this rain. When the vehicles running how the work would continue?” they questioned.
One worker said they could have done a lot more work on the road had it not been for the rainy season that started during the critical stage of the construction.
“When we get two hours of rain even six hours of sun can’t dry out the place fast enough for us to work. In fact, we didn’t even get that much sun in one day,” a worker lamented.
When this newspaper contacted an official by telephone yesterday evening he was quite optimistic that the opening was “looking possible by every hour.”
He said the “weather hold up and we already applied the crusher run [at Crab Island].” He said too that if the weather is in their favour they would start paving early this morning, assuring that it would be dried and ready to use shortly after the asphalt is applied.
The official admitted that they are “bending a little” in their effort to actually force the road to be ready in time for today’s opening “but what can we do? We had to do it.”
The bridge will be opened, the officals will get their photo oppertunity, then one lane of the approaches will be closed after the new year’s to all for the proper work to be done… no decent road can be hurried… they are just throwing money into the mud.
I trust this will not be another scenerio as the kokers to control the flood waters.
Engineering is a scientific approach.
Wherever there is HASTE, there is certainly WASTE and possibilities of NEGLECT resulting in danger to lives.
trix I agree with you on that.
I think Govt. should try to get it right from jump street, as it would look bad if they have to “correct” it shortly after the opening.
Given the rain and all that, Guyanese are intelligent enough to understand the delay, but then again, there is the issue of the “photo opportunity”.
….tow truck, security and monitering systems, maintainance. Water Taxi in case of emergency, life jacket and training. This is a scarey point area. Is there a plan B in place in case of emergency. People should be told. Lets wait and see..
I have to ask, why is the Gov’t forcing the opening of the Berbice Bridge! I’ll tell you why. This Project has been delayed from inception becuasse there were so many issues comin from the Gov’t and fialure of come of the contractors who took on the contract initially.
Now at all, cost including that of human, they are forcing this beidge to be open. The artilce celary states and I quote “They [authorities] are trying to force the bridge to open and if they want the road we would give them the road. But the vehicles would only damage the road especially in all this rain. When the vehicles running how the work would continue” The Gov’t has no regards for human life since the access road is not fully completed which can result in harm to the users.
As we all should know, there are serious problems with the foundations of the access road since they are sinking continually no matter how much shoring up is done. I m anot sure how opening of this bridge will add to the stabalization of this situation.
Since Berbice is dying to connected to the rest of the country and the PP/Civic wanting to grab all the praise for this project, what is the loss of a few berbicians and others to show case a project which began with such high fanfar but faced so many obstacles in the process!
I hope that the Gov’t will use it sixth sense and realise that when peojects are undertaken they shoulbe given the appriate time to be completed and render safe by the proper authorities for public use.
ithal
This approach to the new bridge is pityful looking.
Boy, it is Guyana. I am left to wonder, what type of suuroundings the executives live in. Perhaps, what they are accustomed is what they think Guyanese wil accept.
All ya’ll woulda cuss out the govt if they do not open the bridge today. Suh wha ayuh whining bout?
Well for the sake of the poor taxpayers in this country, I hope that everything goes well.
It is indeed a pitiful site.
This PPP govt obviously have not learnt a single lesson from the Charity Wharf, the mandela bridge that sunk, the several scams under their watch and the scores of other failed projects.
Such a pity!!
The approach, should not be done by Dipcon contracting. They are a waste of time like the local contractors.To do a proper job, you have to do it right the first time.Why does the govt. not send a crew overseas to get proper training in road building?I am sure in the end , it will be very rewarding. Critics will always be there, but they are the ones that makes us stronger.I can tell the engeneers how to build a paved hwy.or a major/minor street.Iv’e been in the buisness for 25 years& working for the biggest asphalt co. in ontario.Happy Holidays to all.
…. when it was signaled weeks ago,, that the bridge was goin’ to be ready and opened on christnas eve day ,,i challenged that declartion with a bet that it won’t and if it does ,, those who out of seeking bragging rights ,, may find that it is not as easy as it seems ,, hope tho,, for “all” the people in the country to be hopeful abt their destiny ! to the politicians ,, and their families ,, show “we,, the people” that u have a heart and that u can feel shame at what u have given us for “christmas” ! ah waiting fuh hear de rhetoric fum y’all abt christmas !fuh all else ,, i hope that y’all stay safe and healthy ! and do the best u can !
Just in case you vehicle should stick up, walk with
- canvas rope
- some plank
- jute bag
- long boots
A Couple CAGE wheel tractor stationed nearby is not a bad idea
lol.that bridgeis too narrow current will sway it. guyanese should call for the bridge to be insured and lets see which company will want to insure it.