Additional materials for new Demerara River Bridge set to arrive after testing

The additional material needed to construct the US$260 million new Demerara River Bridge is expected to arrive in Guyana soon, following the completion of quality control testing.
An engineer of the Public Works Ministry and technical representatives from the contracting consortium, led by China Railway and Construction Corporation Limited (CRCCL), are currently in China testing additional material to be used for the new Demerara River Bridge.

Guyana Times understands that the quality control and inspection measures are essential to ensure safety, durability, and functionality of the infrastructure.
In an interview with this publication on Saturday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill explained that the materials to be procured would play a crucial role in fast-tracking completion of the bridge. He explained that works on the columns for the superstructure and four concrete plants on site are progressing, and citizens can expect to see a physical layout of the permanent structure soon.
“…so, getting the materials checked and tested; they have been shipping all the time. We’ve already done that, we’ve had engineers who have gone up, checked those materials for quality control. Those materials are here, but these are the other long-term things to come in… What people are seeing is what is called a temporary bridge; the platform that they are working to put in the permanent structure. So that bridge that you’re seeing right across the river, that is a temporary bridge. That is a platform that they’re using to put up the superstructure. And it is materials for the superstructure that are coming,” Edghill explained.
As at May 2024, works on the new Demerara River Bridge were 43.4 per cent completed, with a March 31, 2025 completion deadline.

Edghill explained that Government was initially anticipating completion of the project by this year end, but the deadline has been revised because of procurement challenges beyond the contractor’s control. However, he has assured that liquidated damages as stipulated by contract would be pursued.
“That we have agreed on, which includes the loss of time that they would have suffered as no fault of theirs, because we’re holding them accountable. The contract has penalty clauses of about US$15,000 per day beyond the completion date that they would have to pay. So, we’ll be holding them to that high standard, but we’ve had to agree and compromise on the days when they had issues with shipping, what they call force majeure. So, the new completion date, and I think that’s out in the public, is March 31st, 2025,” he detailed.
The bridge would land aback Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, and at La Grange, West Bank Demerara. A massive workforce of 650 workers is working to advance the project. Of these, 120 are Guyanese while 85 are Venezuelan migrants.
Back in 2022, $21.1 billion had been allocated towards work on the bridge. The CRCCL (International)-led joint venture outbid four other prequalified international companies that submitted proposals for the project.
In the months before the contract was awarded, the Guyana Government, through a team of specialists – legal and engineering – was in negotiations with the Chinese company to finalise the terms of the contract.
The new bridge will be a fixed 2.65-kilometre, four-lane, high-span, cable-stayed structure across the Demerara River, with the width of the driving surface being about 23.6 metres.
The bridge, which features a bicycle lane, would end the closure to vehicular traffic with a 50-metre fixed high span to cater for the free and uninterrupted flow of vessels. The river would be dredged along a 13.5-kilometre stretch to accommodate large vessels.
This new bridge would replace the ageing floating Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), which has outlived its lifespan by several decades. At 1.25 miles (2.01km), the current Demerara Harbour Bridge is a strategic link between the East and West Banks of the Demerara river, facilitating the daily movement of thousands of vehicles, people, and cargo.
Specifically, it would provide better connectivity to the East Bank of Demerara, the Diamond-to-Ogle bypass road on the eastern side of the river, as well as the WBD roads, including the Parika-to-Schoonord road on the western side of the river.
The new bridge is a critical component of the Government’s drive to expand and modernise Guyana’s transport infrastructure, and would address the challenges faced by users of the current bridge by providing safe, efficient, and effective crossing.
Upon completion, it is also expected to lay the groundwork for other economic opportunities for Regions Three and Four, including agricultural development, tourism, construction, housing and commerce. (G1)