Latest update March 30th, 2025 5:52 AM
Latest News
Works Ministry mulling weight restrictions, tolls
– in wake of Region Nine bridge collapse
Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, a team of engineers and contractors on Friday met with the Region Nine Administration, members of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and the business community in Lethem; where they discussed the possible options for the Moco Moco Bridge which collapsed on Wednesday.
The collapsed bridge
The final decision regarding the way forward is expected by next Wednesday.
According to a government statement, having expressed concern due to the reports being made about the wet weather and high stream flow, the Ministry is looking at measures, inclusive of putting in weight restrictions. Minister Benn noted that failure to do so will result in the loss of the bridges given their indiscriminate use and the weather.
“We are coming up with three options to consider by Wednesday; to have a temporary solution or a full solution with respect to the usage of the bridge … it cannot be used now and access to Deep South is only by going around through St. Ignatius,” he said.
Minister Benn indicated that the team looked at the bridge at St. Ignatius which is in a fairly sturdy condition, and will continue to be used in the normal way, that is, heavy truck traffic will not be allowed across.
“We are very concerned that the bridges are mostly designed for 12 tonnes (the bridge which collapsed was designed for 12 gross tonnes) with a factor of safety of 1.5 tonnes. It appears that there is frequent heavy loading of that bridge as it appears too for many others in the area,” he said.
The Ministry suggested that persons who would want to transport heavy equipment into the Deep South, walk the equipment over the stream’s bed, which of course would depend on the height of the water.
Another option under consideration is the upgrade of the bridge at Moco Moco which collapsed on Thursday as a truck was carrying an excavator across.
Considerations also include the application of tolls for roads and bridges during the wet periods.
Minister Benn said that based on information on the evening of May 9 and 10, there were severe thunderstorms over the Kunuku Mountains in the vicinity of Moco Moco village which resulted in those heavy rainfall events forming a heavy torrential stream in the Moco Moco River, overtopping its bank and taking boulders and pieces of debris along with it. The entire top of that bridge was flipped over downstream. Further down, closer to Lethem, a torrent washed out the embankment leading to the second bridge (eroded it completely) having overtopped its banks and apparently washed out the foundation.
Minister Benn explained that while the event was marked both at Lethem and Moco Moco, in terms of the damage to the bridge at Moco Moco (the first bridge), and while the water was right up to the bridge further down, it was not noted because of the height of the water, that the foundation of the second bridge at that time was affected.
Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, providing an update after visiting Region Nine to check on the bridges. Consultant Walter Willis and an engineer of the Ministry are also in photo.
Thereafter, on Wednesday, it was noticed by persons bathing in the river that one of the supporting pillars had fallen over completely and they warned someone passing in a canter that such had happened. However, while the information was passed on in the community and to some persons at the RDC, it was not examined.
A few hours after, the truck from the Deep South Rupununi arrived at the bridge but the occupants were unaware that the structure was compromised. No effort was made to block the bridge so as to prevent heavy traffic across it.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The PPP is afraid
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), stood before... more
The Caribbean: Destined to Grin and Bear the Consequences of Its Self-Created Vulnerabilities?
By Sir Ronald Sanders For decades, many Caribbean nations have grappled with dependence on a small number of powerful countries... more
Weekend Cartoon
