Guyana Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, said the Demerara River bridge is 43.4% completed, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI). Work began last year and is expected to conclude by the end of 2024.
“It is going ahead full steam. The bridge is moving. The last report that we had is from the consultant, we are at 43.4% in terms of completion. Works are moving apace, everybody is seeing that,” Edghill said.
Progress was at 33% last December.
Construction workers for the 2.8-kilometre structure number 650, including 120 Guyanese and 85 Venezuelan migrants, DPI said.
The modern bridge, connecting Regions Three and Four, is being constructed under standards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
The bridge will accommodate vehicles of all sizes and weights, and carry a speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour (km/h). It will replace the Demerara Harbour Bridge, which can accommodate vehicles moving at 32 km/h. While the current bridge has opening schedules to allow large vessels to pass, the new bridge will have an elevation of six meters above the surface to allow all vessels to pass underneath. It is expected to last 100 years.
The current bridge has inhibited the smooth flow of traffic. So, the new bridge is highly anticipated to help boost traffic and productivity.
China Railway Construction (International) Limited is the contractor installing the structure for US$260 million, while the Italian firm Politecnica oversees construction. DPI said the monitoring team is made up of 22 persons – a mix of local and foreign experts.
