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Harbour Bridge to close six hours tomorrow night for repairs
Engineers are set to work six hours under floodlight tomorrow night to conduct critical repairs to the Demerara Harbour Bridge. This is because a fuel tanker heading for Providence, East Bank Demerara, slammed into it Sunday morning, damaging key components of the retractor span.
According to the bridge’s General Manager, Rawlston Adams, no traffic will be allowed to cross between 22:00 hrs tomorrow (Wednesday) and 04:00 hrs Thursday.
The Demerara Harbour Bridge is set to close for six hours Wednesday night to cater for emergency repairs, following Sunday’s morning accident involving a fuel tanker.
Until then, there will also be no retraction to allow for river traffic. Because of the damage, there is a weight restriction of 25 tonnes until the repairs.
The aging structure, commissioned in 1978, is main link between the city and West Demerara and Essequibo. Government is currently considering proposals for a new bridge across the river.
An accident like that which occurred Sunday morning has been among the worst fears for the authorities, because of the structure’s importance to trade and traffic. The bridge has “long outlived its lifespan” but has been kept operational at huge costs because of limited options at this time until a new structure becomes a reality.
According to reports of the incident, the scheduled retraction to allow river traffic through on Sunday, commenced at approximately 05:00hrs.
A fuel tanker, Lucy PG, whose local agent is the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC), was set to pass through heading south to a gas terminal at Providence. The pilot was reportedly instructed by the bridge supervisor to prepare to align the vessel to transit. The pilot acknowledged the instructions.
Fifteen minutes later, the bridge was fully retracted and the pilot was granted permission to pass. At approximately 800 metres from the bridge, the shift supervisor indicated to the pilot that he should align the vessel properly to transit. The pilot reportedly responded that “I know what I am doing”.
At about 500 metres away, the shift supervisor called upon the pilot, insisting that he align the vessel properly. The pilot’s response was: “I know what I am doing, don’t worry man”.
As the vessel got closer, crew members were heard shouting “starboard! starboard!”
The vessel collided with the first set of cluster piles then the second, and subsequently the bridge. According to bridge officials, the collision occurred around 05:30hrs.
This resulted in the retractor and acceptor spans being out of alignment. An emergency crew was assembled and equipment mobilized for emergency repairs to be carried out.
According to the General Manager, the bridge remained closed to vehicular traffic for approximately four hours. The bridge was reopened to vehicular traffic at approximately 09:40hrs on Sunday, with a weight restriction of 22 tons, because of the damage.
In addition to four special connecting posts being broken, there was also severe damage to piles, with a pontoon punctured. Anchorages at a certain section were also shifted.
Kaieteur News was told that there is an active investigation ongoing with agreement in place for the tanker’s UK owner to compensate the bridge for the damage.
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