Weight limit on harbour bridge cut

…after component damaged

Traffic was halted for a few hours after damage to a component of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) was discovered during the opening for ocean-going vessels yesterday. As a result the maximum weight limit for vehicles has been reduced to 18 tons until the component is replaced.

During the scheduled 1 pm opening, the damage was discovered and the bridge was closed to road traffic until 4 pm while repairs were undertaken. Closure to road traffic usually lasts about 1 to I½ hours. 
An official at the DHB told Stabroek News that when the bridge was opened for sea vessels at 1 pm yesterday, it was discovered that a ‘transom’ at Span 26 of the bridge was broken. The official explained that this was the part where the decking of the bridge sat. Another at Span 2 was also discovered to be disconnected but this was repaired, the official said.

However, he explained that the broken part would have to be replaced and this would be done within a week. In the meantime the weight limit on the bridge has been reduced to 18 tons.

The DHB is a vital link between Regions Three and Four and accommodates the crossing of some 24 000 commuters daily.

It was designed by Thomas Storey Engineers Limited using Acrow Panel Bridge and Uniflote with the contract signed on May 24, 1976. The bridge which was a semi-autonomous body became a corporation on April 14, 2003.

In recent times, maintenance works have been ongoing on parts of the decking on an almost daily basis.