Harbour Bridge Collapse...Management still assessing cost

Harbour Bridge Collapse…Management still assessing cost

Jul 28, 2012 News

Management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) is still assessing the cost it incurred to execute emergency rehabilitation to the section at the western end which collapsed on Monday disrupting the flow of traffic for three days.
The collapse occurred hours after workers removed a pontoon to repair corroded connections. Two temporary pontoons broke off and sank shortly after the bridge reopened from an early morning closure. It caused the two westernmost spans to buckle at the connections and to be partially covered by river water.

Demerara Harbour Bridge

The entity, which is dependent on Government subsidy, lost much needed revenue during the period. But, DHBC’s General Manager, Rawlston Adams stated it is unreasonable for management to comment on revenue loss when individuals and companies would have suffered greatly.
Adams said that to prevent any mishaps management has decided to reassess all temporary pontoons to ensure they could be used. He related that these old pontoons have been around since the existence of the structure in 1978 but they have never failed.
Adams noted that the temporary pontoons are maintained regularly, in fact, the two pontoons which failed on Monday were recently rehabilitated.
He emphasized that maintenance is a major part of the structure’s continuity- daily the structure is inspected and necessary works are carried out. Some works need careful planning as such they are compiled in a work plan which is executed in order of urgency.
Adams said that shortly, management will be changing the pontoons at the retractor spans and anchor blocks will be installed at the retractor and acceptor spans.

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