One of the three acrow-panel bridges along the access road leading towards the Moleson Creek, Corentyne terminal, collapsed Thursday afternoon under the weight of a low-bed laden with equipment, resulting in the temporary disruption of the Guyana/Suriname ferry operations.

Director/Secretary of the Canawaima Management Company, which oversees the day to day operations of the ferry service, Guyanese Mr. Ronald Charles, told the Chronicle he was apprised of the incident by officials at the Moleson Creek terminal.

Charles said it was reported to him that the incident occurred as the vehicle was making its way across the last bridge out of the area.

Charles said he learnt that when the bridge broke, the low-bed fell into the canal underneath, burying some components of the bridge in the process.

According to him, efforts are already underway to have the repairs to the bridge effected by staff of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) in the shortest possible time.

Charles said, meanwhile, the construction of a bypass is being considered to facilitate the flow of traffic so as to have the ferry service up and running in the shortest possible time, and not cause undue inconvenience to the travelling public during this holiday season.

Reached by telephone, General Manager of the DHBC, Mr. Rawlston Adams, confirmed that his unit would be effecting the repairs which he said they would aim to complete in about three days.

According to him, on receiving a report about the incident, an advance DHBC team was immediately mobilised and they departed the city at around 04:00h yesterday for the location.

On arrival, an assessment of the damage and materials needed was done and at around 13:00h the needed component and another complement of employees left for the Corentyne area.

Asked whether the men would be working around the clock to complete the job, Adams who will travel today to the area, said this will be determined after a full assessment of the situation is conducted.

The M.V. Sandaka currently transports passengers and goods on the Guyana/Suriname route, between Moleson Creek in Guyana and South Drain, Suriname, while the M.V. Canawaima has gone into dry dock.

The Sandaka, however, cannot accommodate 20 foot and 40 foot containers, nor trucks with height and width in excess of three metres and 2.7 metres.