Berbice bridge a reality in September-BCCI

May 16, 2008 News

…tolls to be on par with current ferry charges

By Leonard Gildarie

The much-touted and long-awaited Berbice River Bridge is on schedule and should be open to traffic early September, according to officials of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI).
Speaking to media during a tour of the ongoing works, yesterday, it was also disclosed that users of the bridge would not have to worry too much since the toll will be on par with what is being charged by the current ferries system.

According to Geeta Singh-Knight, Chairperson of the BCCI, the ferries are charging just below $700 one-way for a sedan size car and from initial figures, this same car using the bridge will be charged around $1400 which will allow for a return trip.

Additionally, the official stressed, there will be no cost for passengers as is now being charged by the ferries plying the Berbice River.

Trucks using the bridge will be charged by weight and not by size, the official said.
According to Winston Brassington, Company Secretary of BCCI, the tolls charged will be reviewed annually, taking into account inflation, among other things.

60% complete
According to Singh-Knight, the US$36 million bridge is 60 per cent complete and the BCCI is all set for a handover by the end of August with traffic flowing in early September. Vehicles weighing more than 40 tonnes will not be allowed to use the bridge.

According to Henny Muskens, Site Supervisor of Rexroth Bosch Group, a European consortium which is the contractor, already 18 spans of the 39 have already been installed.

The materials had to be sourced from Vietnam after checks in India and China proved futile.
Construction started in 2006 but there were setbacks because some sections had to be redesigned. It was explained that the high span, which will allow tugs and bauxite barges to pass comfortably to the ocean, had to be shifted and this delayed the progress somewhat. Additionally, from eastern bank at Crab Island, the contractors encountered problems driving the anchors because of the hard ground.
Almost 60 persons are working to make the bridge a reality and change the entire way of life in the Berbice area which, in addition to being a key farming area, is increasingly becoming a trading hub because of close ties to neighboring Suriname.

It is estimated that two hours are lost on the Berbice River taking a return trip on the ferries.
While the high span was built on the water, the 16 spans that have been installed from the western side at D’Edward were built in the MMA compound.

The bridge has been given a 30-year life span, but according to Muskens, the bridge will last much longer with the necessary maintenance.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the BCCI’s Technical Committee, Bert Carter, explained that the bridge is being installed in phases to prevent problems with the river traffic since the open section between the high span and main bridge leaves the river channel free.

He disclosed that a major achievement was realized last Saturday when a truck was able to drive on the road linking Crab Island and Palmyra on the eastern bank.

Carter also noted that the Berbice Bridge will be much easier to maintain than the Demerara Harbour Bridge which has 101 pontoons as against the 39 to be used on the Berbice Bridge. The pontoons are key to the stability of floating bridges.

Access Roads

According to Rawlston Adam, General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, who is also overseeing the building of the access roads from D’Edward on the western bank and Palmyra and Crab Island on the eastern bank are 70 per cent and 40 per cent completed respectively.

He assured that the roads will be completed to allow traffic by September but DIPCON, the road contractor, has until next year April to finish the US$8.7 million roads with the necessary lightings and markings.
To realize the building of the access roads at the western approach to the bridge, some 35 families had to be relocated, while on the eastern bank, for the three kilometers of road at the Crab Island and Palmyra area, persons had to be compensated for 87 strips of farmlands.

Responding to questions why there was no walkway on the bridge, Singh-Knight disclosed that it had never been part of the designs.

She assured that the bridge has a one-year guarantee where “liquidated” damages could be claimed from Rexroth Bosch Group in the likelihood of any problems.

BCCI is also hoping to hire about 60 staff to run the bridge which will include a plaza of tool booths and other businesses at the western end at D’Edward.

The bridge will have the necessary lights and navigational lights installed at the time of handing over.
BBCI is a local consortium comprising of investors from CLICO Insurance, Hand in Hand Insurance, Secure International Finance, Demerara Engineers and Contractors Ltd, and National Insurance Scheme.