Guyana’s new Demerara River Bridge is on track to be completed by the end of August, with the final concrete slab to connect its eastern and western spans set to be poured on August 25, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said.
Speaking during an inspection last week, Edghill said the last eight girders would also be installed between Aug. 15 and 17, alongside final testing of the bridge’s cables.
“We have committed that this bridge will be completed by the end of August. Despite the weather, despite the challenges, the contractor and the project team are working on delivering this commitment,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI).
Notably, Edghill dismissed concerns about the bridge’s structural capacity, stating that its construction equipment far exceeds the weight of typical vehicles. “The weight of one of the girders that travels along this bridge to be placed is 160 tonnes… one of the cranes operating there is about 470 tonnes,” he said, comparing this with the 40 tonne weight of a fully loaded truck.
In July, Edghill said that the new Bridge did not need load testing for vehicular or any other traffic and would be fully open and operational to traffic using all five of the planned lanes.
He had explained that the bridge was being built to a certain specification and was being monitored to ensure that this was done; therefore, there would be “no need for a trial period” to test vehicular traffic.
The new bridge, designed for a 100-year lifespan, will be toll-free and operate around the clock with a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h. It will accommodate vehicles of all sizes and weights and is expected to cut travel time for more than 50,000 daily commuters, saving an estimated GY$3.5 billion (US$16.8 million) annually, according to DPI.
Featuring the Cacique Crown of Honour, the country’s second-highest national award, in its design, the bridge will replace the aging Demerara Harbour Bridge, a floating structure that has served as a vital link between Guyana’s East and West Banks for decades. The current bridge has inhibited the smooth flow of traffic due to a number of factors. As such, the new bridge is highly anticipated to boost traffic and productivity.
The bridge, a road approach network, and consultants cost in excess of US$300 million, according to Guyana’s 2025 budget documents. Guyana paid nearly half the cost, while a loan from the Bank of China covered the rest.
“Every Guyanese should be proud that we have been able to achieve this in such a short space of time,” Edghill said.
