New Demerara River Bridge to be toll-free when completed – Pres Ali announces

– says current Berbice River bridge, new Wismar Bridge to also be toll-free

In a move to improve competitiveness and lessen the burden on citizens, the Guyana Government has announced plans to make the new bridge across the Demerara River toll-free when it is completed in March next year.
This was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali during the commissioning of the new Schoonord to Crane four-lane Highway on Thursday evening.
“On the completion of the new Demerara River bridge, the toll for crossing will be free of cost,” the Head of State declared to scores of cheering citizens gathered in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

According to the president, this move by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration is to ease the burn on citizens while also enhancing the transportation network and improving competitiveness through the efficient movement of goods and services across the country.
“You’ve heard me say that we’re evaluating ways in which to improve the competitiveness of productivity, and reduce the burdens on the private sector, consumers, and farmers,” he noted.
The Guyanese Leader also announced on Thursday that citizens from other regions especially Berbice and Linden will also benefit from toll-free perks as the government plans to make the current Berbice River bridge and the new Wismar Bridge free of cost as well.

The US$260 million new Demerara River Bridge, a key project to alleviate traffic congestion caused by the current floating Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), is a critical link between Region Three and Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
The new bridge is being constructed by China Railway Construction (International) Limited, with the Italian firm Politecnica overseeing the project to ensure adherence to the standards set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Only earlier this week, it was reported that the ongoing works are 64 per cent completed.
The new bridge will be a fixed 2.65-kilometre, four-lane, high-span, cable-stayed structure across the Demerara River, with the width of the driving surface being about 23.6 metres. The bridge, which features a bicycle lane, will bring an end to closures to vehicular traffic with a 50-meter fixed-high span to cater for the free flow of vessels uninterrupted.
It will replace the aging floating Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), which has outlived its lifespan by several decades. At 1.25 miles (2.01km), the current Demerara Harbour Bridge is a strategic link between the East and West Banks of Demerara, facilitating the daily movement of thousands of vehicles, people, and cargo.

Berbice Bridge
Meanwhile, on the current Berbice River bridge, it was reported earlier this year that the government would be engaging the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) investors to lower the current toll prices.
At the sod-turning ceremony for the new US$161 million modern hospital in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) back in January, President Ali had noted that since the government carries the maintenance cost of the bridge, they were formulating a plan to work with the BBCI investors and play a greater role in making it cheaper to cross the Berbice Bridge.
During his announcements on Thursday, the Head of State said that even if those talks are not concluded by the time the new Demerara River Bridge becomes operational next year, the Berbice River Bridge will still become toll-free at the same time.
“We are in the process of discussing with the Berbice River Bridge [Company], the possible acquisition of that bridge by the government… Once this occurs, and even if it does not occur, by the time we make this [new Demerara River] bridge toll-free, the Berbice River Bridge crossing will also be free of cost,” Ali declared.
The Berbice River Bridge, a critical link between Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 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.
Recently, however, the PPP/C Government has been touting plans to construct a new four-lane, fixed high-span bridge across Berbice River to replace the current 1.57-kilometer floating structure.
A Request for Prequalification has already been issued for contractors to design, build, and finance the new modern bridge across the Berbice River.
President Ali has made it clear that he would ensure this new structure is built in the face of criticism by the Opposition, especially the Alliance For Change (AFC) which had questioned the financial viability of a new bridge and called for a feasibility study to be done. But the government has argued that the Opposition always finds ways to block major initiatives that would benefit Guyanese and improve their lives.
“So, not only we will be building a new bridge but the current one will be toll-free… And for those who have a problem with us building a new high-pass bridge at Berbice, they got a greater problem now because it gonna be free of cost,” the Guyanese Leader posited on Thursday.

Wismar bridge
Meanwhile, as part of his administration’s push to enhance the lives of all Guyanese throughout the country, President Ali also announced that there will also be no fee at the new US$35 million Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
“At the time the Demerara River Bridge is made toll-free, the Wismar Bridge will also be made toll-free… We are bridging the hearts and minds of every Guyanese. We are bridging every community and we are doing it free of cost because we’re doing it out of the abundance of love,” the Head of State noted during Thursday’s announcements.
Only earlier this week, it was reported that works have commenced on new four-lane bridge, connecting Wismar and Mackenzie across the upper Demerara River. It is being built at the same location as the current bridge. This project, undertaken by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, involves constructing a 220-metre-long precast concrete bridge with vital safety features such as lighting. (G-8)