Cameras, new system for Demerara Harbour Bridge

Feb 20, 2010 News

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Government says that it will install cameras at the Demerara Harbour Bridge and also remove the necessity of handing in tickets at the western end of the facility. These are part of the efforts to lessen delays.
During his budget presentation, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Robeson Benn, was of the opinion that the Demerara Harbour Bridge achieved an acceptable level of serviceability and facilitated service between the east and west bank of the Demerara River.
Last year, according to a government statement, $747M was allocated by the administration with $593M being utilised to acquire 2,000 deck plates.
There has been a vast improvement with quality and serviceability of the bridge as a result, he told the National Assembly.
A total of 2,348,000 vehicles crossed the bridge. Minibuses represented the second highest number at 452,000 vehicles. Cars were almost one million.
Last year, traffic volume over the bridge increased 16 percent over 2008.
A two-lane operation was successfully implemented, allowing for east bound traffic to utilise both lanes on the bridge to exit in the mornings in a rapid manner and which is allowing for a rapid discharge of traffic flowing into Georgetown.
Revenue on the bridge operations was $417,589,589 with expenditure of $396,654,929, yielding a surplus of $20,934,000, the Minister reported.
According to Benn, developments must be seen in an international context, taking into consideration what is going on in the rest of the world as it relates to developments in industries which contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Parliamentarian, Vanessa Kissoon, of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), raised concerns over works on critical sections of the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and the Minister noted that the contract was awarded for the project and work is expected to commence shortly.
Last year, he disclosed, in the areas of bridges and roads, sea and river defence, air and river transportation, a holistic approach was taken to the infrastructural programme. This year’s allocation of $10B is slightly below last year’s allocation of 11.4B.
In 2008, there was a merger of the sea and river defence division with the Works Services Group which saw full integration last year and activities continued on foreign funded road projects, nationally funded miscellaneous roads, force account road works, and hinterland roads among other projects.
Some of the achievements in the sector include the launch of the transportation infrastructure rehabilitation programme under which contracts were awarded for 26 culverts and bridges from Timehri to Rosignol at a cost of US$6.9M.
The project also includes rehabilitation of the Abary Bridge of which 75 percent of the work was completed at the end of 2009 and mobilisation was in progress for other culverts and bridges.
The Ministry also made tremendous efforts to clean up road reserves and it is mandated to continue the work this year and will redouble efforts since many persons are still encroaching. The Minister called for full support of the members of the National Assembly, members of the public, government departments and the private sector toward this effort.
In the area of sea defence, $124M has been budgeted for the commencement of a mangrove management project for sustainable coastal zone protection.
This three-year project includes institutional strengthening at the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), and improved monitoring and rehabilitation of mangrove fields.
In 2009, Government completed preparation of a Sea and River Defence Policy, and identified priorities for the effective strengthening of sea and river defence management and maintenance. In support of this, an amount of $2.7 billion was spent on construction, rehabilitation, restoration and maintenance of the sea and river defences.
Additionally, last year, $120 million was spent for the procurement of an aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle to reinforce safety and response capabilities at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). This is expected to be in operation from this year.
The upgrading of the Mahdia airstrip was completed, works have commenced on the construction of Wakenaam airstrip, and maintenance was done on 39 domestic aerodromes in such areas as Lethem, Monkey Mountain, Itabac, Bartica and Port Kaituma.
An amount of $126.7 million was also spent to improve river transport facilities, particularly for the modification and extension of the Parika and Supenaam Stellings, along with the rehabilitation of the Moleson Creek Stelling and Wakenaam wharf while a further sum of $387.9 million was expended for the docking and rehabilitation of MB Sandaka, MT Aruka, MV Makouria and the acquisition of spares and navigational aids.

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