The location of the new bridge makes no sense

Oct 03, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am not amused by the efforts of government to construct a new bridge over the Demerara River. The proposed bridge has no place in that location since the unruly traffic situation witnessed daily between Houston and Providence will be brought closer to central Georgetown. I foresee traffic backing up to Parliament Square. This we do not want.
The design and bridge type is undesirable for technical and other reasons. What we need is a high level bridge spanning the river and being at least 120 feet above the high water level. This will allow for ease of shipping in and out of the estuary. When we consider that in two years time, there will be a serious road link between Brazil and Guyana, we have to understand that heavy container traffic will comprise the bulk of traffic using the road link. Much use could then be made of available land in Linden for wharfage facilities to enable the loading and offloading of cargoes enroute to Brazil.
It is a disguised fact that the current harbour bridge has contributed to the flooding of areas along the East Bank corridor from Garden of Eden to Kingston. We need to ensure that any new bridge will not add to the heavy siltation of the outfall channels along the mentioned route. The current four lane carriageway from Diamond/Grove is already up to its maximum capacity and with traffic bound to increase by 2020, it makes no real economic sense to erect a structure that will meet its maximum capacity in a few short years. We need to seriously connect Timehri and beyond with a four lane road passing behind the new housing areas at Grove/Diamond. This new road link should have no shops and encumbrances near to it.
It should preferably be a high speed road link giving access to each village along the way, they being connected via suitable ramps. On the West Demerara we should be thinking of a new highway skirting around the conservancy and linking up with another one that connects Parika with Goshen. Phenomenal development will take place within a few years time and we must be prepared for same. For these reasons, the new proposed bridge should carry four lanes and be a high level one.
Cyril Walker

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