New Berbice River bridge: Construction expected to begin before yearend – Pres Ali

The Government is looking to commence construction of the new Berbice River Bridge before the end of this year, according to President Dr Irfaan Ali during a press conference on Friday.
“We are hoping to have that bridge started long before the end of this year,” the Head of State told Guyana Times.
Only last month, it was reported that the negotiations for the award and signing of the contract for the new four-lane high-span concrete bridge across the Berbice River was being finalised.
The new structure, which will replace the current flooding bridge, will be designed to mirror the US$262 million high-span Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, allowing large vessels to pass beneath it without any interruption to vehicular traffic.
In 2025, seven firms were pre-qualified from an initial pool of nine companies and were required to submit price quotations to design, build, and finance the new bridge. 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.
Last November, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had disclosed that a preferred bidder has been identified, and was working with the government’s negotiation team to finalise the contract.
According to President Ali on Friday, “They are on the verge of finalising the finances and also the final price. They are more or less there.”
Meanwhile, even as preparation is ongoing to commence the construction of the new bridge across the Berbice River, the Guyana Government is simultaneously working on acquiring the current floating structure that serves as a critical link between Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Asked for an update on that acquisition process, the Guyanese Leader told this newspaper that this too is being finalised.
“I think the final sets of meetings are ongoing now. Again, I think they are almost at an agreement…and within the next couple of weeks, that will be finalised,” President Ali revealed during Friday’s press conference.
The current Berbice River Bridge was constructed between 2006 and 2008 through a public-private partnership at a cost of just over $8 billion.
The 1.57 kilometres bridge was financed mainly by the state-run National Insurance Scheme (NIS) along with other private companies, which comprised the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) that currently operates the structure.
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, calling it as one of the most lucrative investments for the NIS.
The 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 (loan stuck) $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. At the time, the bridge company had been on the brink of bankruptcy.
In August 2025, 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 at the new Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge and the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge in Linden.
But President Ali had subsequently told this newspaper last year that his government is engaged in negotiations with the private investors in the Berbice Bridge company on a possible buyout. He explained that the goal is to ensure there is an “amicable” agreement between the private investors and the State.
During the consideration of the 2026 budget estimates in the National Assembly back in February, Minister Edghill has disclosed that the acquisition of the Berbice Bridge would cost the State less than if it were to continue subsidise the bridge operation. He pointed out that with the removal of tolls, the government has been absorbing the operational costs including maintenance and payment of staff of the bridge.