A TEMPORARY platform is being built to facilitate the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge, senior government officials disclosed via social media on Wednesday.

In 2022, a US$260 million contract was signed for the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge.

The new bridge is expected to be some 2.65 kilometres long with two carriageways and four lanes. It is a hybrid design with a high span having a cable-stay design. The vertical height of the bridge is to be constructed at 50 metres from the mean highest watermark.

This new bridge is said to have a design lifespan of 100 years, and will take the place of the existing bridge, which has been in operation for more than 40 years, surpassing its projected lifespan.

During a meeting in July with contractors and the officials from Politecnica, the Italian supervisory firm that is involved in the project, President Dr. Irfaan Ali was informed that mobilisation works are more than 50 per cent complete at the La Grange, West Bank of Demerara project site.

An official attached to the consultancy firm has indicated that additional equipment and materials were expected at the worksite by the end of August this year.

“Materials have already arrived; 1,900 piles already on the port will be leaving in 2-3 days. Once it reaches on site, execution will start by the end of this month,” the consultant had told President Ali.

Further, he said that permanent works, work that entails the construction of structures that will be in position for long-term, were scheduled to commence by October of this year.

“We will start permanent work as well. In September, October we will be in the position to start the permanent work,” President Ali was told.

At the time, contractors were working on a 24-hour basis to complete all preparatory works in a timely manner.
A representative of the China Railway Construction (International) Limited (CRCCL), the company undertaking the massive project, expressed confidence that all works will be completed by December 2024.