THE Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) deserves special attention given the volume of traffic, with approximately 17,000 crossings moving along the decades-old bridge.

This was according to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Joseph Harmon, on Thursday night, in his contribution to the debate on the 2014 Estimates.
He said, “The Budget allocates $338M for critical works to extend the life of the Demerara Habour Bridge. We are aware of the condition of the Bridge…time has run out on the Bridge and the regular patching would not extend its life significantly.”
The APNU front-bencher called on the Government to expedite work on the new structure and make full disclosure of the details of the project.
Harmon also called for the establishment of a Bridge Authority to deal with issues related to the new structure.
“Take Winston Brassington, NICIL (National Industrial & Commercial Investments Ltd.) and the former President Bharrat Jagdeo out of the process,” he stressed.
DHB General Manager Rawlston Adams, in February this year, had explained that the feasibility study for the new bridge has already been completed, with Versailles on the West Bank, and Houston on the East Bank, being determined as having the best advantage in terms of location. Also Good Hope on the East Bank, and Patentia on the West Bank were cited as possible locations.
Government has indicated that it will invite Expressions of Interest for a public-private partnership for the construction of the new bridge.
Transport Minister Robeson Benn, at that time, reported that any such arrangements will be handled by NICIL (National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited) and not his ministry, since that is the agency which attends to such matters.
He further explained that the reason such an arrangement is being sought is because the Government does not have the kind of money it will take to finance the venture.
Benn also reported that a freshwater environment is the perfect habitat in which to relocate the current Demerara Harbour Bridge, when its replacement comes into operation, with the Kurupukari Crossing on the Upper Essequibo River being listed as the likely candidate.
The new bridge will be made of reinforced concrete, have four lanes (some 20 metres wide) for vehicular traffic; a walkway for pedestrians; a cycle lane; navigational clearance (100m wide); navigational aids; and an estimated length of 2,250 metres.

(By Vanessa Narine)