Temporary structure for new Demerara River bridge 100% complete

The temporary structure which will aid in the construction of the New Demerara Harbour Bridge is 100% completed, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill disclosed yesterday.

The minister made this announcement during an inspection of the western section of the temporary structure. It will pave the way for ongoing construction of the new four-lane, highspan bridge that will connect the west and east banks of the Demerara River, which is 33% completed.

“I was invited here today by the contractor to bring me up to date as the subject minister on the milestones that we would have achieved in terms of completing the structure for this bridge. Importantly, it is timebound, which means that we have to meet a significant deadline and that works are progressing smoothly,” he informed.

“Based on my inspection and the reports I have received today from the contractor, 100% of the temporary structure is completed, which I am happy for. And they are now putting in the platforms, which are required…”

The Public Works Minister detailed that the main tower, which reporters were standing on yesterday, will link the 300metre span from the western side to the eastern side of the bridge. He said that each of the towers will be supported by 38 steel piles. Further, each of the steel piles will accumulate approximately 500 cubic metres of concrete.

“From the technical explanation in layman’s terms, this is about 58 trucks of concrete the contractors will be using. Note these are ready-mix trucks, and from what the contractor is telling me, one of those piles and the concrete that is used is sufficient to build a three-storey house in Guyana…,” he elaborated.

Edghill said that the landmark pouring of concrete that was estimated for December 5th, 2022 saw the pouring of concrete on the eastern side where eight of those piles were completed. He said that the benchmark time for starting the pouring of concrete on the 38 piles was January 6 (tomorrow).

“My invitation was to come on the 5th of January to see everything before we start on the 6th, but as you all know and you would hear publicly we are going to be in Linden tomorrow with His Excellency President Irfaan Ali for the signing of the New Wismar-Mackenzie bridge,” he said.n “So, another landmark is being met which would be the pouring of concrete to accommodate the 38 piles that will form the platform for the two high spans.”

Edghill said that when he visited the bridge recently there were concerns about the shipping of materials through the Panama Canal which is faced with low water levels as a result of the prolonged El Nino season.

“When the contractors related this to me, our clear instructions were to let us find ways and means of working around the solution and the company [China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Company Limited