Eight bidders from around the world have been shortlisted to build the proposed Corentyne River bridge linking Guyana to Suriname.
“Based upon the agreement that we have with Suriname, 38 bids were evaluated by both sides and then jointly, out of that process, we have selected eight bidders that are now prequalified and would be required to put in price proposals,” Public Works Minister Juan Edghill told Stabroek News.
“We anticipate that these price proposals would be available no later than three months. The next stage would be to have the preferred bidder and the engagement to begin,” he continued.
Edghill said that representatives from both Georgetown and Paramaribo recently met and “reiterated their commitment to this process and it is anticipated that we would be able to make a report to President (Irfaan) Ali and President Chandrikapersad Santokhi when they meet sometime in August.”
Edghill explained that both sides gave a commitment that the release of the names shortlisted would be done jointly.
However, Suriname news agency Waterkant reported the shortlisted companies as being China Road and Bridge Corporation (China), EGIS (France), Exp Services Inc., Pedelta, Arcadis, CEMCO (Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Guyana), FIGG / Sunecon / SRKN’gineering & Associates/E&A Consultans / P-ALL Consultants/ Environmental Management Consultant (United States of America), Politecnica and Rina JV / ILACO / SRKN’gineering & Associates (Italy, Suriname, Guyana), SYSTRA International Bridge Technologies Inc. / AP&G Consultancy Suriname NV / Delta Marine Consultants / Deltares (Dubai, Suriname, Netherlands),TYPSA/ Leonard, Andra und Partner GmbH/ FIRM (Spain, Germany, Suriname) and WSP Caribbean Ltd. (Trinidad).
Waterkant said that the offers are expected no later than September 16, 2021, after which they will be assessed by a joint evaluation committee.
According to Waterkant, the chosen company has approximately one year to carry out a feasibility study.
In November of last year, and during a three-day visit by President Ali to Suriname, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the joint bridging of the Corentyne River.
“Once constructed the bridge will serve as a permanent physical link between the people of Guyana and Suriname and be of enormous benefit to the Tourism, Transportation and Trade sectors,” Ali had told a press conference there.
‘Commercial zone’
On Wednesday Edghill said that plans are also on stream for the building of a $150 million road for connecting to the planned bridge, which will be located at an abutment between Moleson Creek and El Dorado, in Berbice to Lange Island that is in the middle of the Corentyne River.
With plans to develop the island into a commercial zone, Edghill said that commuters will then drive to the other side on Lange Island, where the bridge will then connect from there to South Drain in Suriname.
“The road to be built at Molsen Creek is currently being advertised for bidders. We have already built two concrete bridges to facilitate that road,” he said.
“The bridge is moving from an abutment between Moleson Creek and El Dorado to Lange Island. And from the other side of Lange Island it will move from Lange Island to South Drain. So it is not one continuous bridge. The Island is to be developed into a commercial zone,” he added.
