New Demerara River Bridge 90.7% complete as cement poured on final tower
– on track for August 31 deadline
The cement was poured on the final of 35 concrete towers on Saturday night, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge and moving closer towards the August 31, 2025 deadline.
In fact, construction works are approximately 90.7 per cent completed.
This was revealed by Public Works Ministers, Juan Edghill, and Deodat Indar who joined local engineers, the contractor: China Railway Construction (International) Limited; other officials and workers, to witness the final pouring of cement on the last concrete pillar (P-35), located on the eastern side, to be erected on the bridge project.
Public Works Ministers, Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar joined project engineers and the contractors, to witness the final pouring concrete on the last tower, as works progress on the New Demerara River Bridge
According to Minister Juan Edghill, approximately 1,600 cubic metres of concrete were poured for each tower of the bridge. The next major milestone in the project is the completion of the 17 cable-stayed sections, which will span 570 metres across the channel.
Of this total, around 350 metres have already been completed, while a further 220 metres remain to be cast in order to finalise the connection of the 2.8-kilometre (km) bridge.
“By June 15, we would have completed the installation of all of the girders on the eastern side. All of the girders on the western side is already in. And what that means is that the bridge will be completely assembled, and it’s just a matter of pouring the concrete, putting in the asphaltic surface, the rails, putting on the lights. And I think in engineering, they call it the furnishings and the finishing,” Edghill stated.
As it relates to the spans on the cable, 11 out of 17 are completed.
With more than 1,300 workers, of which over 100 are Guyanese, working 24 hours, the senior Public Works Minister noted that the project is progressing with stealth and with speed.
“Everything is on track… Everything that is needed for the bridge, which we were nervous about, are in the country.”
Last pour of cement on the final tower (P-35) of the transformational high-span, four-lane cable-stayed new Demerara River Bridge project
“It’s been a long journey. By no means we are saying that the bridge is finished tonight, but what we are definitely saying is this milestone event has brought us much, much, much closer to the completion of the bridge,” Edghill noted.
Despite challenges, both Ministers Indar and Edghill assured that the US$262 million will not only be completed on time but within budget.
Meanwhile, officials from the supervisory firm, Politecnica, have assured that the quality of work being executed on the project is according to international specifications.
“All that we’re seeing is what has been specified for the project,” a representative of the consultancy firm told reporters at the project site Saturday evening.
To complement the new bridge, extensive road upgrades along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and West Coast Demerara (WCD) are ongoing and will play a major role in significantly reducing traffic congestion and travel time.
Once complete, the bridge will connect Regions Three and Four, improving economic activity. The toll-free crossing will accommodate vehicles of all sizes, with a speed limit of 80km/h.
Designed to last at least 100 years, the bridge will also feature the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH), Guyana’s second-highest national award, as part of its design.
