Multi-vehicle crash on BJ Demerara River Bridge stalls traffic

…calls made for lower speed limit
A multi-vehicle collision on the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge on Tuesday afternoon has intensified public calls for a reduction in the speed limit on the newly commissioned structure. The accident, which occurred at approximately 16:00h, involved seven vehicles, including a truck, a minibus, and a pickup. The incident led to a large backup of traffic along the Hero’s Highway and the East Bank Public Road. While details on serious injuries were not immediately available, the incident quickly drew widespread attention after videos circulated on social media, prompting renewed debate about safety on the US$260 million bridge. Many commenters urged the Police to consider lowering the current 80 km/h limit to around 60 km/h, arguing that the bridge’s design and traffic patterns may warrant stricter speed controls to prevent similar incidents. Safety concerns have been mounting since October, when a minibus crashed into the median and a light pole on the bridge’s western approach just one week after its commissioning. The driver in that case sustained multiple fractures and was hospitalised. The Government later indicated that it would seek compensation for the damage to public infrastructure.

During his weekly programme “Issues In the News”, following the first crash at the bridge after its commissioning, Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to holding reckless drivers accountable for damage to public property, consistent with its established approach in similar cases.
“Let me assure you that our Government acts in an even-handed manner. If we are committed to a course of conduct, then we are committed to it. And once we are committed to that course of conduct, then whoever it is, the treatment will not be different. Equal treatment is part of the constitutional protection accorded to every Guyanese citizen,” the AG had said.
The Government has previously recovered costs for similar incidents involving destruction of public assets and says it will continue to protect public infrastructure and enforce accountability.