Dear Editor,
Please permit me to use your column to reply to a letter written by Mr. Lewis Hale and which appeared in the Kaieteur News issue of Friday 7 December, 2007. I would also like to thank him for the interest shown with respect to the technical specifications of the bridge and trust this will answer his questions and also enlighten the public on the issues raised by him.
The German shippers, Oldedorff Carriers, will be operating twenty – four barges with the assistance of five tugs, to move bauxite down the Berbice River in barges “tailor-made” to match the bridge clearances with respect to “daylight” aperture under the high span of a fully loaded bridge, i e , 11.1 M .The masts of these tugs are collapsible which will facilitate passage under the high span .
The clearance between the adjacent floating pontoons under the high span is 40 meters, and the width of a typical barge, as advised, is 11.45 M with an overall length of 93.5 M.
The approaches on either side of the high span are to be protected by clusters of piles located at 15m increments up to 60 M. These will be located in such a way as to “funnel” vessels through the opening. Similarly the retractor span, with a clearance of 70 M when completely retracted, will be fully protected with a set of cluster piles on either side of the approach with outer limits of 150 M. Both locations will be adequately lit at night with synchronized flashing beacons to aid maritime traffic.
This level of preplanning coupled with the cooperation of the various users and the bridge sponsors would allow for minimum disruption due to excessive opening and closing of the retractor span, whilst enhancing the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.
I would hope that the above comments, brief as they are, will allay some, if not all, of Mr. Hale’s concerns. A short documentary on the history and of the construction to date is being produced at the moment and will be aired to the public.
Yours faithfully,
Bert Carter
Chairman
Technical Committee of Berbice
Bridge Inc.
