THE Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) will be closed to heavy vehicles today and tomorrow, to allow  the replacement of six pivots at spans one and two, which were never changed and have corroded.

At a press conference, held yesterday in the DHB boardroom, the General Manager Mr. Rawlston Adams explained that, while the overpass will be open to normal traffic and will be subject to its regular retractions, vehicles above 22 tonnes would be restricted while the works are ongoing.
He said, starting at approximately 06:00 hrs, the majority of the work will be completed today.
Adams advised that the remainder of what has to be done will continue at 06:00 hrs tomorrow.
He said, with the restriction of heavy vehicles, the crossing would lose approximately $60,000 in revenue from tolls for each day that the execution takes.
Adams revealed that the undertaking, costing in excess of $5M, is being funded with revenue collected from tolls.
He explained that most of the expenditure was for the preparatory stage and not for acquiring the actual pivots.
Adams said everything is being done by the technical/engineering staff of the DHB.
According to him: “We don’t hire contractors for these works because, what we realise, is that the skills needed reside here. We can’t hire anybody, they don’t have the experience.”

FABRICATED LOCALLY
He revealed that the pivots were fabricated locally by Courtney Benn Contracting Services, using the model of an old one.
Adams remarked that the works being done this weekend are similar to that undertaken last year when the bridge “went down” at spans 60 and 61.
The structure had collapsed at those sections and pivots were subsequently changed. As such, he said that the pivots at spans one and two are being replaced now, in order to ensure that there is not a recurrence.
“These works are very critical for the upkeep of the bridge. The pivots, based on our recollection, were never changed and have become due for changing. These components have corroded and we need to replace them,” he reiterated.
Adams said the preparatory works began some four months ago, with dredging operations to provide enough floatation for the temporary pontoons which are required for the purpose.
He related that, having completed the dredging, there is presently enough floatation to allow the process and the two temporary pontoons have already been installed.
Adams gave the assurance that all systems are in place and the equipment needed is available to complete the job during the course of this weekend.