Some $21.1B has been allocated for the construction of the new, fixed four-lane high span Demerara River Bridge in this year’s budget, Minister of Finance Dr Ashini Singh said during his presentation yesterday.
Singh did not elaborate on the areas the allocated sum will be spent on but it is believed that the sum will be used to finance studies and construction of critical roads towards the beginning of the bridge work.
Additionally, the Finance Minister disclosed that $946 million has been budgeted to rehabilitate and maintain the aged existing floating bridge.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had previously stated that it is vital that the existing bridge remains functional as the new harbour bridge will not become operational for another two years.
He made the comments earlier this month when he explained the rationale behind the large sums being spent to fix the bridge.
A sum of $1.2 billion was spent on rehabilitating critical areas on the bridge last year. “Budget 2021 catered for the rebuilding of a new span nine and for repairs to spans nine and ten as a temporary model…,” Edghill had said.
The Works Minister had explained that they have been working to ensure the best deal for the new bridge project is secured before they move to sign a contract.
Discussions are centred on financial payment options, final design of the bridge, and delivery of work, among other things. China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) was selected as the company to construct the $256.6 million bridge after cabinet’s no objection and an evaluation by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.
The company had tendered the lowest bid during the procurement process. Stabroek News understands that during the evaluation of bids for the project, CSCEC scored highest for its submission of a bridge proposal that it will design, finance, and build. Guyana, it was explained by a source, would have to operate the crossing.
During the procurement process, government had specified that the design should accommodate a dual two-lane (four-lane) carriageway, hybrid cable-stayed centre-span bridge with concrete box/T-beam girder approach bridge structures, and must include bridge collision protection, a navigation span to accommodate Handymax vessel navigation aids, lighting, signage, and all other ancillary works, an access road with a minimum of 50 meters up to abutments, toll-collection buildings and ancillary buildings on the West Bank of the Demerara River. When completed, government wants the new bridge terminating at Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara.
Government had said that it may have to acquire those lands which fall into the path of the new location which terminates at Nandy Park on the East Bank and La Grange on the West Bank, but a decision on that matter has not yet been made.
There has been major controversy over the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency not to require and Environmental Impact Assessment for the new bridge.
