The completion and opening of the new Demerara Harbor Bridge might not occur by the previously announced date of August 31, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.
At a press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo acknowledged that while construction is at an advanced stage, the government will not rush the completion due to upcoming elections. He dismissed safety concerns as “nonsense,” stating that the construction and supervision teams are experienced in building such structures.
“They are not going to be pushed to do anything that is unsafe. I don’t know when they will actually be completed, but it will be very soon,” he remarked, noting that the final span is currently being connected.
Originally scheduled for completion by December 31, 2024, and later pushed to March 31, 2025, the project has faced delays due to issues such as material transportation to Guyana. Jagdeo emphasized that the public is aware of the bridge’s progress, stating, “The people of Region 3 and Region 4 who use that bridge see it every day; they know the commitment we made.”
The new bridge will accommodate vehicles of all sizes and weights, with a speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour, significantly improving upon the current bridge’s 32 km/h limit. It will also feature an elevation of six meters to allow large vessels to pass underneath without disruption, and is expected to last for 100 years.
Constructed by China Railway Construction (International) Limited for US$260 million, the project is being supervised by the Italian firm Politecnica.
Tribute from Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken on Commander Raphael Rose
