Government is exploring the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River, while maintaining the current bridge, according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson.
At a press conference on Monday, Ferguson said the government had reviewed the feasibility study that was done under the previous administration. She assured that avenues are being pursued so that a new bridge can be constructed but added that in the meantime the Ministry is doing full maintenance on the current bridge.
There have long been calls for a new bridge across the Demerara River and the current structure has been plagued by mechanical problems. It has been pointed out that the growth in traffic has taken a toll on the bridge, which opened in 1978 and has been the major artery linking Georgetown to the West Demerara. The floating steel structure, which measures 6,074 feet (1851.4 metres), spans the Demerara River from the village of Peter’s Hall on the eastern side to Plantation Meer-Zorgen on the western end.
According to the pre-feasibility study for the new bridge, an average of 13,781 vehicles use the current bridge daily and the structure has passed its useful life and presents not only challenging operations and maintenance demands for the Demerara Harbour Bridge Company, but also impedes the progression of improved mobility between the east and west banks of Demerara.
The study had also noted that since 2008 the bridge has undergone capital repairs in excess of US$10 million, which equates to an average annual maintenance cost of approximately US$2 million or US$ 1.1 million/ km.
However, engineer Joseph Holder, a former project manager for the bridge, has said that the bridge can continue to operate indefinitely.
