Construction of new Berbice River Bridge to begin this year – Pres Ali

…as negotiations being finalised with bidders

As the Guyana Government continues to build out a modern infrastructure network across the country, President Dr Irfaan Ali has disclosed that construction works for a new high-span fixed bridge across the Berbice River are expected to start before the end of this year.

“Today, we are building that economy that is powered by modern infrastructure. This year, not only will we complete the Demerara River Bridge and the new highways, but we will also start the new Berbice River Bridge,” the Head of State disclosed during an event hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday morning.
This new bridge will be a modern fixed-span structure, eliminating the need for retractions and ensuring continuous traffic flow for both marine and vehicular transportation.
Earlier this year, seven firms were pre-qualified from an initial pool of nine companies and were required to submit price quotations for the new Berbice River Bridge, which will replace the current 1.57-kilometre (km) floating steel bridge across the Berbice River.
However, only five of the shortlisted firms responded and submitted their bids.
These include a joint venture of China Railway Construction Caribbean Company Limited and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co Limited, which submitted a bid of US$255.87 million; a JV of AJM Enterprise and Shandong High-Speed Road & Bridge Company Limited, with a bid of US$279.68 million; and another JV of China Railway First Group Company Limited and China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co Limited, which proposed US$266.43 million.

China Road & Bridge Corporation and Vishwa Samooja Private Limited out of India are the two lone bidders vying for the project with financial proposals to the tune of US$205.88 million and US$465.51 million, respectively.
These bids have been under evaluation over the last few months. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill told the Guyana Times on Friday that the negotiations are still ongoing.
Previously, President Ali had assured that the new bridge across the Berbice River will be built to the same modern standards as the US$260 million new Demerara River Bridge that will be opening this weekend after being completed by China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Limited.

Land acquired
Meanwhile, as part of the new bridge project, the Government has already acquired approximately 50 properties on the eastern side of the Berbice River to facilitate construction of the new bridge and earmarked some $5 billion in the 2025 national budget for the construction of the new structure.
The current floating Berbice River Bridge, a critical link between Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six, was constructed between 2006 and 2008 through a public-private partnership at a cost of approximately $8.2 billion. It was financed by loans and equity contributions from various entities, including the state-owned National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and other private investors.
It was conceptualised and constructed under the Bharrat Jagdeo Presidency. In fact, Jagdeo, who now serves as Vice President in the current PPP/C Administration, just last year defended the innovative financing model used for the bridge.
“It was one of the most lucrative investments for the NIS. NIS made a tonne of money from that bridge because it invested in a lot of the preference shares that had a higher ranking and the subordinate debt… And we didn’t have to go to the treasury. It was because of the innovation of the Government,” Jagdeo had stated in September 2024.
NIS had invested in Bond One of the project to the tune of $300 million. The scheme received (not principal payments) $270 million, a 90 per cent return on their investment. It also invested in Bond Two, $760 million, and received $823 million in return. The insurance scheme also invested $500 million for subordinate debt and $456 million, while preference shares invested was $950 million. Some $80 million was further invested in common shares.
Under the previous A Partnership For National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration, there were talks, which never materialised, of a possible state buyout of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) to avoid the increase of tolls.

“Amicable” agreement
Back in August, President Ali told this newspaper that his Government is engaged in negotiations with the private investors in the Berbice Bridge company on a possible buyout.
“We’re in the final stages of that [negotiation]. The Minister of Finance is leading that, and we will be working towards inking an agreement after the elections so that the responsibility of the bridge will be that of the Government,” the President told Guyana Times on August 7.
According to the Head of State, the goal is to ensure there is an “amicable” agreement between the private investors and the State.
“Investors must have the opportunity to negotiate, and if there’s a buyout, then they must have their…concerns dealt with, so we have a very good process that is ongoing,” the Guyanese leader explained.
As of August 1, the Ali-led Administration introduced its toll-free initiative, which saw the removal of fees to cross not just the Berbice River Bridge but also the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge in Linden.