A new hydraulics system will be installed at the Berbice River Bridge by April month-end to rectify a flaw in the design of the ramps for the retractor span.
CEO of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc Omadat Samaroo told the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Tuesday that the flaw was discovered during the testing period in January. It causes difficulties in lifting the ramps for the retractor span necessitating manual retraction which adds about 20 minutes to the usual retraction time. Samaroo said the manufacturer has been informed about the problem and a preliminary design of a hydraulic system has been sent for consideration.
However, he said that the Bridge is still being opened automatically as only the ramps require manual labour. Samaroo also said that installing the new hydraulic system will be done over a four-day period. He said too the company will inform the public about the temporary arrangements one month prior to the closure. The CEO also said that the company will liaise with the Ministry of Public Works to provide adequate ferry service during the said period.
According to Samaroo, the work is vital for the effective operating of the bridge. He said the company will not be facing any new cost from the manufacturer since it is still in the “liability period.”
President Bharrat Jagdeo commissioned the Bridge on December 23. It starts from D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice and stretches across to Crab Island, on the eastern bank.
…for such an important structure that links two counties in the development of GUYANA to be so early from it’s opening is surely indicative of what next ??
the management of the bridge ,, or the reporter is not giving us the true scope of the engineering flaw that is impeding the progress of nat’l development !
my question here is ,,,,, HOW come it worked b4 ,, and now it don’t ????? engineers inculcate the ability to be imagineers ,,, and it is this ability that guides their knowledge of what to expect when systems must be integrated to perform as a whole ,,
it makes any engineer/s look less so when “after” the flaws emerge they make silly little excuses to smooth over their inability to perform as professionals !…..
Even to the most quality controlled products sometimes malfunctions, but there’s a period of guarantee to replace complete/defective parts.
To err is human!
To not admit error is also human…
What happens when one ‘errs’ too much or too often??
Per Michael, was this oversight in the engineering plans? “Flaw” really doesn’t answer the question of whether this was something that was unforeseen in the engineering design and planning stages or whether this was just oversight.
It seems that it was a deficiency in the design from the article. But per Arnold shhhhtuff happens.