Day 2 of DHB closure: Span 9 installed, early reopening likely, retraction testing to be done

…works ahead of schedule, no time extension needed – Edghill

On Day Two of the closure of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the newly-built Retractor Span 9, along with ancillary equipment, was successfully installed, according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill.
Preparations are all in place for tonight’s closure of the Demerara Harbour Bridge for a three-day period to facilitate the replacement of Retractor Span 9, and Public Works Minister Juan Edghill is confident that works would be completed within the set timeframe.

The bridge was closed to both vehicular and marine traffic at midnight on Monday for a three-day period, with reopening scheduled for 23:59h on Thursday, July 27. This was to facilitate the replacement of the aged Retractor Span 9.
The new span was built to the tune of $1.2 billion by Industrial Fabrications Inc (InFab), a local company.
Staff from Infab are assisting the DHB Corporation team with the installation of the new Span 9. These works started in the wee hours of Tuesday immediately upon the closure of the bridge.
Updating the media about the works completed so far on Wednesday afternoon, Minister Edghill took a group of reporters onto the bridge where the new Retractor Span 9 was already in place and the plates (decks) installed.
A cable wheel to hold the hydraulic lines as well as the electrical cabin to control the hydraulics and the two towers were also positioned at the time.
“We’re now waiting to put in the two arms that will lift the rack when the bridge is retracting. Once that is done, we will be able to start testing, which means to make sure the bridge is retracting and closing,” Edghill told reporters.
Asked about the time this would take, the Public Works Minister opted not to speculate, noting that the priority is to ensure the work is done correctly. However, he was quick to note that the works are on schedule, and in some instances ahead of schedule.
In fact, he explained that after the hydraulic arms are installed, the team would start testing the bridge to ensure that it is functioning smoothly during retraction. Those tests, according to Edghill, would start during the course of Wednesday night.

Early reopening
“To put everybody at ease, we are not going to go beyond the time that has been requested. We said we will finish by Thursday midnight, and the chances are we’ll be opening before midnight on Thursday…
“We are scheduled for midnight (Thursday night), and if we are ahead of schedule and everything goes well, we will not twist our fingers and linger here until midnight. We know the importance of this artery and this asset, and we will give people enough notice so they can start getting ready to use the facility,” he said.
“I think people in Guyana should appreciate the serious work and effort that has been put in by our local people, because InFab is a local firm, the Demerara Harbour Bridge are all Guyanese staff. It’s all Guyanese engineers, Guyanese technicians, Guyanese welders, and this has showcased that we have capacity in Guyana to get things done. And that’s something that we should celebrate, and we applaud all the people involved,” the minister stated.
Like with any job of this magnitude, the Public Works Minister admitted that there were challenges, but he lauded the alacrity of the workers in overcoming any issues that arose.
“(Tuesday night) they had challenges, but the men push through, they worked through. That is normal in something like this. We have the skill, we have the brainpower, we have the engineers, and we have the people who know what they’re doing; and I’m quite satisfied that they’ve risen to the challenge of getting this in place, and they are doing a fantastic job… And I need to emphasize there are lots of women who are lending support in this project, both as engineers and as well as support staff, and getting done what needs to be done,” Edghill stressed.

Maintenance works
Meanwhile, even as works are ongoing on the replacement of Span 9, the DHB Corporation team is taking advantage of the bridge closure to conduct necessary maintenance and rehabilitation works on the bridge. Those works, being undertaken by the DHB staff, are being executed on Spans 10 to 29, from Spans 30 to 38, and Spans 39 to 61.
According to DHB General Manager Wayne Watson, the works from Spans 30 to 38 have been completed, while works in the other areas are about 60 per cent done.
When questioned about the possibility of delays in these maintenance works, Watson dismissed the notion and explained that once most of the works on the Span 9 installation are completed, the assets and personnel would be redirected to assist with finishing the rehabilitation works at the two remaining sections.
With only 40 per cent of the works remaining, the DHB General Manager has said, “…by 12 tomorrow, I’m guaranteeing we will accomplish that… We had to share the resources to assist InFab in ensuring (the installation of Span 9) is completed, because this is priority. So, we have to ensure that this is completed within schedule, and then we can focus the remaining time to the other areas.
“The other thing was the (work on the) High Span also was of major concern for us, but that has been completed. So, we are well ahead of time,” Watson declared.
In preparation for the three-day closure of the DHB – a critical link between the West Bank and East Bank of Demerara that connects several regions across Guyana — alternative systems have been put in place to facilitate the transportation of people across the Demerara River.

Smooth flow
The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) announced that, in addition to the regular Georgetown (Stabroek) to Vreed-en-Hoop crossing, two other temporary terminals have been set up along the Demerara River to facilitate the operation of water taxis to move people. These are at Grove, East Bank Demerara to Wales, West Bank Demerara, and at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
It was previously reported that 78 passenger boats have been dispatched to operate at these three routes along the Demerara River. Water taxis were transferred from the Essequibo route to support this massive effort at the two secondary locations.
According to Director General of MARAD, Stephen Thomas, this contingency plan is bearing fruit, with orderliness being observed at all the locations. He noted that they are constantly monitoring these three areas, and dispatch additionally boats where needed.
For instance, he related, there are buildups of passengers at Wales during the early morning hours, and so they have dispersed vessels from other locations to assist with ferrying persons over to the Grove stelling.
“The largest buildup in terms of time, persons have to wait not more than about 10 minutes, and that’s just for a very, very short period of time. Once we recognize there is a buildup, we move assets from Georgetown/Vreed-en-Hoop and we bring them here [at the Harbour Bridge] or at Wales. We shuffle them accordingly. So, we’ve been able to manage the situation, which we are happy to report to the nation,” Thomas stated.
MARAD personnel have indicated that they are managing “quite comfortably” with the number of water taxis, and do not see the need for an increase in vessels to operate along the Demerara River. In fact, Minister Edghill posited that they are very comfortable and satisfied with their planning and systems put in place during this three-day bridge closure.
“The movement of the people at Vreed-en-Hoop is much more orderly and smoother than when the bridge is functioning. People are exercising patience. They’re waiting on each other to step on the boards. We have put in more monitors. Safety has been there. There’s not one report of robbery or theft, or anybody been harassed or bullied. The Guyana Police Force provided service 24 hours a day since this [closure] is happening,” the Minister outlined.
But even as officials laud the ‘smooth flow’ of things, some persons have expressed their frustration with the bridge closure. Persons lining up at the Harbour Bridge to use the water taxis to cross over to the western side have complained about having to pay double transportation fares.
In the past, they would take a mini bus from Georgetown to either West Bank or West Coast. However, with the bridge closed, they are forced to take a bus up to Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara, where they use the water taxi to get over to the West Side, and then have to take another transportation (bus/car) to get to their destination.
Moreover, a vendor at Stabroek Market complained that he is unable to transport all of his produce from Parika to sell. According to Shawn Persaud, “It’s been kind of tough… When I go to the stelling, them boats taking $150,000 to carry over all my [produce], and it rough…so I had to only bring over one load. I still got about five more loads left there…the boat man them don’t want to carry over everything.” (G8)