Still a high cost for a bridge crossing

Dear Editor,

I refer to Mr Gonsalves’ letter in SN dated April 28 re the proposed Demerara Harbour Bridge, and state that in recent e-mail correspondence with him I indicated that I made a calculation mistake in my letter. The figure $31,000 per crossing should have been divided by 20 years, ie, $1550.00 per year per vehicle crossing. I also replied to a reader in the reply section who questioned my figure per crossing.

This was just a rough estimate since I stated in my letter this figure does not include the developer’s interest rate during construction, OH and profit, operation and maintenance of the bridge etc. In my first letter where I broke out the cost based on a figure of US$300M for a developer to construct, my calculation shows that for 2000 vehicles crossing each vehicle has to pay $8600 to cross. If 5300 cross per day it will be $3245  and if 9000 a day cross it will be $1911 per vehicle. This is still very high for Guyana as Mr Adams’ figure for 2010 shows a cost for a vehicle to cross as $200 per day. I am familiar with the design and construction of these types of bridges in the Far East as well as costs, etc.

Mr Gonsalves who admitted he has no experience in bridge design still insists that this bridge can be built in reinforced concrete, particularly the span of 330ft.

I would like Guyana to develop, and if the DHB can get a developer to build the bridge for US$300M in reinforced concrete making a profit, etc, I will be the first to write congratulating both Mr Gonsalves and DHB.  I hope this is the end of the letter-writing on this subject.

Yours faithfully,
M Alli