Berbice get Christmas gift

Dec 24, 2008 News

Construction works ongoing on the eastern half of the bridge

The US$40M Berbice River Bridge was yesterday opened to the public and residents lauded efforts to have the facility functioning for their Christmas traverse.
However, even as the public was allowed to use the facility for free yesterday, the access road on the eastern end will take at least two more months before it is fully completed.
As the facility was launched yesterday, works were still ongoing at the eastern end.
Residents turned out in their hundreds to witness the historical launching as one elderly gentleman shouted, ‘Thank God me live to see this’.
To the Berbicians gathered at the bridge site, President Bharrat Jagdeo said that yesterday was a ‘joyous’ occasion for all Guyanese.
The Head of State said that the bridge is one of many projects that have to be completed in order to achieve the ‘second generation of industry and infrastructure’.
He said that despite the recent turmoil in the world’s finance, Guyana has managed to keep its macro-fundamentals stable.
There is need, he added, for more public/private sector collaboration, adding that the administration still has to manage a fiscal deficit.
The building of the bridge does not only have financial benefits for Berbice, but serve as a tool for integration of territories, he added.
For years, the President said, persons have been made to wait for hours on the ferry service causing lost of man-hours that accounted for some $200M per year.
With the implementation of the bridge service, it is hoped that more investments will be diverted to Berbice.
He applauded the private sector, which invested in this particular project, for being ‘bold’ since many had criticised the project from the inception.
According to the Head of State, the private sector should use opportunities such as the Berbice River Bridge to assist in the development of the country.
He was quick to point out that this can only happen through the vision and initiative of the private sector.
The ferry service will still be used to transport heavy traffic, he added.
At present, while the bridge is open to the public, only one lane of the road on the eastern side is open to traffic.
This, the President said, will be fixed in time.
He urged that persons be patient with the situation as the bridge will ease the burden off commuters.
While the Berbice River Bridge Incorporated built the bridge, the government was responsible for the construction of the access roads.
With the renditions from the Guyana Police Force, the Head of State along with residents and members of Parliament walked across the entire bridge.
Over at the eastern end the President was briefed on the construction works.
The Retractor Span of the bridge is 70 metres, the same as the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
There will be a scale at both ends of the bridge, and only vehicles weighing a maximum of 40 tonnes can traverse the bridge.
The toll structure at the bridge will be almost the same as the ferry service.
However, passengers do not have to pay individual fares as all is incorporated in the cost for using the bridge.
BBCI will operate the bridge on a toll basis, using a formula that will secure sufficient revenue to cover all operating and maintenance costs, give a return on the investment, and repay financing.
The bridge will be handed over to Government after 21 years.
(Tusika Martin)

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