Old Harbour Bridge to help build new ones in Region Nine

Apr 07, 2026 News

Old Demerara Harbour Bridge

(Kaieteur News) – President Irfaan Ali has announced that sections of the old Demerara Harbour Bridge will be repurposed to upgrade critical crossings in Region Nine, an initiative pitched as a quick fix for long-standing infrastructure gaps in the Rupununi.

The president made the announcement while engaging residents of Rukumutu and satellite villages, the head-of-state acknowledged that several key areas remain in poor condition, hampering economic activity across the region. Among those flagged for urgent repair are: Sand Creek Bridge across the Rupununi River, the bridge at Karaudarnau Village, Yakarita Bridge, Katoka Bridge and Parabara Bridge.

“And what we will do to kick-start things, sections of the Demerara Bridge, we will bring to Region Nine so that we could have those bridges completed where possible as quickly as possible,” he told residents.

President Irfaan Ali during his engagement with residents at Rukumutu Village in Region Nine.

Noting that very soon the bridges will be addressed, the head-of-state disclosed that he has asked Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill to lead a team in the region and they would complete an assessment within the next three weeks of what it would take to have those major bridges completed.

The Demerara Harbour Bridge, which has already outlived its lifespan by over 40 years was replaced by the new four-lane high-span Demerara River Bridge in October 2025.

Since announcing plans that the old bridge will be replaced, the government has outlined several areas they intended to use parts of the bridge for. Some of the areas which were identified are the links between Sand Hills and Timehri, and the Leguan to Wakenaam link.

Minister Edghill had told workers of the old bridge that a group of them will be responsible for operations at the Sand Hills to Timehri Bridge, where components of the existing Demerara Harbour Bridge structure will be relocated to support a new alignment. Another team will be assigned to work on the Leguan to Wakenaam link. He had stated before too that the old harbour bridge “will not be a scrap iron; it will be part of enhancing Guyana’s development.”

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Demerara Harbour Bridge, infrastructure gaps, Rukumutu, Rupununi

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