Latest update February 22nd, 2025 1:34 PM
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Feasibility study for new Demerara River Bridge underway
– current structure struggles to handle growing volumes
With new navigation lights in place, the Demerara Harbour Bridge is now moving to introduce night openings to cater for marine traffic.
As Government continues to actively pursue the construction of another bridge across the Demerara River, authorities have assured that the current structure remains in “fairly good” shape.
The facility is now moving to introduce night retractions to help reduce the daily congestion that occurs when it is closed to vehicular traffic.
The biggest problem continues to be the increasing volume of traffic with a record 11,000 vehicles crossing one way during the Christmas season rush. This is significant as traffic has been averaging around 8,900 vehicles heading one way. While the bridge’s management had been looking at the 10,000 mark, traffic volumes on the aging structure continues to exceed projections…small wonder when the registration of vehicles have topped an average of 10,000 per year.
Updating the media on the performance of the Demerara Harbour Bridge yesterday, General Manager, Rawlston Adams disclosed that the facility, which provides a critical link between East and West Coast Demerara, raked in a 15 percent increase in income last year of $533M. It spent almost $675M to conduct repairs and maintenance, among other things.
Of this, tolls from marine traffic dropped slightly, with $20M collected.
Of course, revenues from vehicular tolls accounted for the biggest earnings with $462M collected, as compared to the $412M from 2013.
However, river traffic saw a reduction last year from 1,270 vessels in 2013 to 1,191. On the other hand, bridge retractions took 55 minutes on average, five more than 2013.
To help prepare the facility for night openings, new navigation lights and cluster piles, which are placed strategically to protect the bridge against collision, were installed last year. Several sections of the bridge were also strengthened as part of the work programme for the structure. These included buoys, pivots, beams and A-frames.
Last year also, Adams disclosed, the bridge installed technology that now allows police to monitor traffic at the bridge in real time. The bridge is also linked with the asphalt plant, almost 10 miles away.
Meanwhile, with regards to a new crossing for the Demerara River, Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn said several expressions of interest have been received but they are not being focused on at the moment.
Rather, Government is going ahead with a feasibility study to determine the way forward for a new crossing…whether an overhead concrete or another floating structure. The location is also to be decided.
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