Government has procured a Dutch company to carry out a feasibility study for the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday announced that the final step before the construction of what will be a high-level fixed bridge will begin in early January 2017 by The Leivense CSO consultancy firm, a Dutch company.
The Demerara Harbour Bridge
In 2013, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHB), in collaboration with the then Public Works Ministry, had carried out a prefeasibility study. That study concluded that a fixed high-level bridge was the best option to pursue.
In 2016, he said, the Public Infrastructure Ministry advertised for suitable consultants to conduct a feasibility study that would lead up to the construction of the bridge, utilising the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. According to Harmon, the Ministry has since received an offer from a recognised Dutch Consultancy Firm, called Leivense CSO to carry out the study and design for the new bridge, including investigation for a prospective financier as well as the preparation of the PPP tender document.
The study is expected to commence in January next year.
According to Minister Harmon, in such types of construction, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies are required. He said the pre-feasibility study examines several things and narrows down the work for the actual feasibility study. That study has a more limited area which it has to consider, he noted, continuing that the study will consider the model, the tender documents and the sites proposed. It will also make the final pronouncement on whether or not the construction is something the country can go forward with.
Early last month, Chief Works Officer of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Geoffrey Vaughn, had disclosed that one of 22 tenders was successful and was being assessed by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to determine whether the contract should be awarded.
In December 2015, 22 companies from around the world submitted bids to conduct the study and furnish a design for the bridge. So far, three connections are being examined for the construction of the bridge – which are between Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Versailles, West Bank Demerara (WBD); between Peter’s Hall, EBD and Schoonord, on the WBD; and between New Hope, EBD and at Laurentia Catherina, WBD.
The bridge must have a navigational clearance of 100 metres wide, with navigational aids, an air draft of 50 metres, adequate marine collection protection at the navigating channels and an estimated length of 2250 meters.
Faced with constant mechanical problems and heavy traffic, calls were made for the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River. Floating at 1.25 miles, the Demerara Harbour Bridge is a strategic link between the Eastern and Western Banks of the Demerara River.
The structure, which opened in July 1978 with the expectation of lasting only 10 years, has been floating for 38 years.
