Technical team mobilised for urgent action on Harbour Bridge problems
The Ministry of Public Works yesterday announced the mobilising of a technical team to take urgent action on retractor span problems at the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) which have prevented the passing of marine traffic and the passage of heavy vehicles.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill after a visit to the bridge on Friday informed that there were mechanical defects at two retractor spans and this will prevent the bridge from retracting to accommodate marine traffic.
A release from the Ministry yesterday said that the Minister of Public Works convened a meeting of a high-level team that included, Minister of Home Affairs and former Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn; Jerry Max Goveia of Industrial Fabrications Int; Marcel Gaskin from Marcel Gaskin & Associates Ltd; Ret’d Specialist in Bridges and Designs, Joseph Holder; former Major of the Guyana Defence Force and former Design Engineer at the Ministry of Public Works, Bhageshwar Murli; DHB General Manager, Rawlston Adams and other engineers from DHB.
After as inspection was conducted the following outcomes were arrived at:
A time sensitive engineering solution is being finalized.
Today (Sunday, September 6, 2020) at 8:30am engineers will facilitate and supervise a retraction of the bridge to allow for marine traffic. After this opening, marine traffic will be unable to pass for a few days since aggressive work will be undertaken.
Motorist are asked to strictly observe the speed limit on the bridge which is currently 20 mph.
Alternatives emergency arrangements for heavy vehicles are being contemplated by way of use of a barge.
The high-level team will continue to conduct daily reviews and if needs be, twice daily, so as to ensure that the works to be done are completed in a timely manner taking into account the importance of this structure and its necessity to commuters.
The Minister of Public Works said in the release that he will continue to engage the management of DHB and is also appealing to all stakeholders, marine vessels and motorists to be patient at this time.
Edghill on Friday explained that the current problem at the retractor spans were identified since 2016 and the former ministers who functioned in the APNU+AFC administration were made aware of the crisis. “I was extremely disappointed when I got there to learn that this problem was known since 2016 and it remains unresolved… this declared emergency is a matter that is pending since 2016 it speaks to (a) gross level of mismanagement and incompetence and neglect of Guyana’s physical infrastructure,” Edghill said.
He explained that in correspondence sent to David Patterson and Winston Jordan, former Ministers of Public Infrastructure and Finance respectively, Adams had informed them of the rapid deterioration of spans 9 and 10 and their rollers. He noted that prior to the bridge management implementing the new weight restrictions, the ministers were reminded of the bridge crisis that was identified during a presentation in 2016.
“… the damages that were done to the Demerara Harbour Bridge retractors, spans 9 and 10… five diamond panels were discovered damaged. These broken panels inclusive of the bottom rollers were also found deteriorated beyond repair on both spans and compromise the safety and structural integrity of the spans,” Edghill read from correspondence between Adams and then Minister Patterson.
Edghill explained that there has been rapid deterioration of the spans. As such he has asked Adams to put forward recommendations that will cater for immediate, medium and long term solutions.
Edghill commented that this emergency situation would not have existed if the past administration was able to utilise funds which went to projects that were not deemed to be important.
Effective January 2, the weight for all categories of vehicles crossing the bridge was reduced. The management had said that the weight of all categories would be reduced from 22.5 metric tons to 18 metric tons and the special crossing from 25 to 22 metric tons.