An economical approach to a newly constructed bridge

Aug 03, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
I support the call for the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River.
This is not the first time I am penning my grave concern in relation to “Hydrological Engineering” in Guyana, namely: “revetment and land reclamation, integral sea and river defences, combatting flood crisis, drainage and irrigation, etc.
As a foreign-based individual being considered to be a potential Guyanese in the Diaspora, I would like once more to submit my opinion and to propose a lending hand of my services and assistance on such a meaningful project.
Thus, as a retired Dutch-trained, -qualified, -oriented professional, with more than 20 years of experience in Hydrological Engineering, here in the Netherlands, I would like firstly to propose and to necessitate the availability of that which is of vital importance on such a relevant subject/project.
My opinions and advice are on the following:
1: That the existing Demerara Harbour Bridge, be maintained on its present geographical location and sustained on its present hydrological position;
2: That we beneficially make use of the present/current floating “surfaced bridge bed-ridge”, on the existing floating pontoon systems;
3: That we totally remove the suspending floating buoys and the anchors that are firmly sitting on the river beds;
4: That we replace the anchor buoys, with galvanised-steel piling on the head of each pontoon, which would be solidly piled/ducked into the river-bed and surfaced about five metres overhead above the “existing/surfaced bridge bed-ridge” and supported above-across, with Xs’.
The same systems that were used at the Berbice Harbour Bridge, only that the floating and flexible pontoons would be attached with “ball-cup bearings” of 35-45cm. in diameter, attached to the perpendicular galvanised-steel piling, which would be stationary, while being cupped around with galvanised-steel tubes at a length of three metres.
Such a project would be very much economical, in constructing and maintaining on a long term basis and most of all, siltation in the river would be eliminated by the feasible-tidal and torrential-current flows.
Rev. Surujlall Motilall
(Ret. Hydrological Engineer, of Roosendaal, in the Netherlands)

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