THE construction of two bridges linking the neighbouring East Coast Demerara villages of Friendship and Vigilance was completed on Monday.
Much to the satisfaction of residents and commuters, the jobs were funded by the Government of Guyana with US$3.5M from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Project Engineer, Ms. Heidi Gillette said R. Bassoo & Sons Construction Company took four months, after starting in late October 2010, to build the pre-stress/post tension structures 37 feet wide with 30 feet spans.
According to her, the objective was to widen 22 feet overpasses to 37 feet and facilitate two-way traffic flow, as well as allow for future extensions if needed.
Managing Director of the builders company, Mr. Roy Bassoo said seven such bridges, out of eight targeted, have already been opened  to traffic usage.
He also projected that work being done on the Saffon/Sussex Streets bridge, in Georgetown, to make a link to a four-lane roadway, is expected to finish in the next two and a half months and one at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, will be opened this month end.
Bassoo said he is satisfied and grateful to the Friendship/Vigilance community for extending full support while the bridges were being constructed. He said he was impressed with the feedback from the villagers and road users who were shouting “God Bless” and “Job well done” at the opening and applauding the success of one more Government of Guyana project with IDB funding.