Dear Editor,

EACH morning, thousands of commuters from Region Three rely on the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) to travel to Georgetown for work, school and other essential activities. While the bridge’s double-lane system—implemented between 06:00hrs and 07:00hrs—was intended to ease traffic congestion, its current execution is falling short of expectations, particularly for those accessing the bridge from the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara.

One of the most glaring issues is that, despite two lanes being open on the bridge itself, only a single lane is allowed to flow from the truck scale toll booth to the bridge. This restriction creates a significant bottleneck, causing massive backlogs that stretch into communities such as Parfaite Harmonie, Pouderoyen, and even Vreed-en-Hoop.

Instead of realising the benefits of the double-lane system, commuters face delays that defeat the entire purpose of the arrangement.

A key contributor to this problem is the barrier located just before the bridge near the scale office—which divides north-bound and south-bound traffic. In the mornings, this barrier needs to be removed to allow two full lanes of traffic to flow simultaneously onto the bridge. Unfortunately, it remains in place, forcing all vehicles into a single lane, and in doing so, significantly reducing the efficiency of the system.

It is also important to note that this traffic arrangement is not being directed by the Guyana Police Force, but rather by bridge police, who appear to be applying the rules inconsistently.

This is in stark contrast to the Georgetown side of the bridge, where both lanes are fully and effectively utilised during the double-lane period, resulting in a far smoother traffic flow.

Region Three is growing rapidly, and with that growth comes increased vehicular traffic and greater demands on infrastructure. If we are to truly benefit from the double-lane system, it is imperative that both lanes be allowed to operate from the truck-scale toll booth to the bridge, and that the barrier near the scale office be removed during peak hours. Without these adjustments, the system will remain counterproductive and frustrating for thousands of daily commuters.

The Demerara Harbour Bridge is a vital national artery and its management must reflect the urgency and reality of daily traffic conditions. I urge the relevant authorities to address

these concerns with the seriousness they deserve and implement the necessary changes for a more effective and commuter-friendly operation.

While everyone looks forward to the completion of the new Demerara River bridge, which will no doubt bring tremendous relief and modern solutions to our longstanding traffic woes, we must not overlook the temporary solutions that can bring immediate improvements.

Sincerely,

Halim Khan

Concerned commuter