Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Harbour Bridge to be closed for six hours next Saturday
– to facilitate $109M pontoon exchange project
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be completely closed off to both marine and vehicular traffic next Saturday from 08:00hrs to 14:00hrs to facilitate a pontoon exchange project.
DHBC’s GM, Rawlston Adams (Centre) flanked by his technical team during yesterday’s press conference hosted at the DHBC’s main office, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara.
This was disclosed by the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC)’s General Manager (GM), Rawlston Adams during a press briefing yesterday.
Adams, in the company of the maintenance, electrical, mechanical and industrial engineers, told media operatives that the works are part of a two-phased $109M project.
The first phase, which is currently in motion, involves the replacement of a pontoon which has been in place at the bridge for over 18 years. He noted that it was “high time for it to be changed”.
Adams said that under “normal circumstances” the pontoon would be taken out and replaced by a temporary one without affecting the flow of marine and vehicular traffic.
However, due to the pontoon’s location and purpose, alternative arrangements had to be made.
“The pontoon that we are about to change houses all the winches, the hydraulic pipes that facilitate the retraction. You have to replace it and immediately hook up the hydraulic pipes and the winches.”
Adams said that the planning for this project started since 2014, when two large pontoons were fabricated to the tune of over $93M.
The DHBC has also hired a “special” contractor, Industrial Fabrications (INFAB) to carry out specific aspects of the project.
Adams said that INFAB – formerly Industrial Engineering Limited (IEL) – was responsible for the installation of the winches under the bridge’s rehab programme.
The arrow labelled Ptn #10.2 (Pontoon 10.2) shows the pontoon that will have to be changed.
The company also has all of the schematics, since they would have installed the same pontoon that they are now moving to replace.
“So management thought it wise to rehire INFAB at the cost of just about $16M.”
Next Friday, June 16, will be the bridge’s last retraction. At that stage, works will begin to disassemble the hydraulic pipes and remove the winches.
“On Saturday (June 17), we will then close the bridge for vehicular traffic, because that is when we will be changing out the pontoon. Saturday and Sunday, we will then start our reassembling of the hydraulic system and hopefully Monday, we will run a test and all things being equal, I expect at that time when I press that button, the bridge starts to retract.
During the entire process, the bridge will be closed to marine traffic.
Adams said that were two rounds of discussion with the marine companies and shipping agents months ago informing them about the works.
“So they are aware. And so they would have adjusted their vessel schedule to facilitate this operation,” the GM said.
He noted that the weather is a major factor in carrying out the project. He said that if the rains persist, the works will not be called off. However, it will extend the estimated completion time.
Adams said that there might be suggestions to do the works at night, but because the works are being carried out under the bridge, there isn’t enough space to add mechanisms for lighting.
He noted also the works are ‘delicate’ and need the daylight.
“Workers’ safety is paramount. We’re working over the river. We’re not working on the road where you have a lot of space to manoeuvre. So it’s about safety…the delicateness of the work that has to be carried out is very important, so we cannot afford to make mistakes,” he stressed.
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