No delays – Pres Ali rules out extension for new Demerara River Bridge

…over 200 additional workers hired to advance project

President Dr Irfaan Ali and team descended on the eastern side of the new Demerara River Bridge which will form a vital link between the East and West Banks of Demerara, for an impromptu visit, where he made it clear that no extensions will be granted to the contractors.
During his visit, the Head of State inspected the ongoing works and received an update from China Railway Construction International Limited (CRCCL), the contractor, on the measures they are implementing to ensure the project is completed within the timeframe- measures such as hiring over 200 more workers, including engineers, to expedite the work on the main spans for the bridge.
“This project is not being executed one day beyond the time. And (your) attitude and work ethics is what’s going to ensure this project completes on time,” President Ali informed the team on the ground, while examining the access road. He further urged that 24-hour work shifts be implemented.

During an examination of some drainage works, the President was informed that some changes had been made. Upon being informed by the project manager that approval had not been received as yet from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the President demanded that they get clarification on the matter by the close of day.
President Ali then climbed up on the bridge itself, where he was assured that the structure will be completed by the end of August 2025. He was presented with a view of the communities and adjoining roads. As a matter of fact, the President noted the several approaches to the bridge, ensuring that traffic congestion can be a thing of the past.
“Those are the kind of roads. Auxiliary roads off of the bridge. It’s gone to connect to the main roads. That’s why we built that highway. The Haags Bosch highway that’s going all the way to Ogle. So, you have four ways you can connect all the way to Ogle and same thing to go to Busbee Dam,” President Ali noted.
It was announced in January of this year that the completion of the new US$260 million four-lane bridge across the Demerara River, which was shifted from a 2024 year-end deadline to March 2025, had been further extended by another five months in order to allow for the concrete works to be properly cured.
This was the outcome of a meeting between a President Ali-led Government team and the contractor, a consortium led by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCCL). Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Housing and Water Ministers Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues, along with their technical teams, were part of the discussions.

Already, President Ali, in his New Year address to the nation, had committed to the new Demerara River Bridge being operational by the end of 2025. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, during one of his weekly press conferences, had assured that the project cost has not increased.
Back in September 2024, Minister Edghill had reported that the Demerara River Bridge project was some 67.8 per cent completed. While the bridge is being constructed by the CRCCL International-led joint venture construction, Italian firm Politecnica is providing supervisory services on the project.
The new bridge would land aback Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and at La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD). A massive 650-person workforce is working to advance the project. Of these, 120 are Guyanese while 85 are Venezuelan migrants.
The new bridge will be a fixed, 2.65-kilometre (km), four-lane, high-span, cable-stayed structure across the Demerara River, with the width of the driving surface being about 23.6 metres. It will feature a bicycle lane, and would bring to an end bridge closures for vehicular traffic with a 50-metre fixed high span to cater for the free and uninterrupted flow of vessels.
The river would be dredged along a 13.5-kilometre stretch to accommodate large vessels. This new fixed high-span structure would replace the aged floating Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), which has outlived its lifespan by several decades.
With a length of 1.25 miles (2.01km), the DHB is a strategic link between the East and West Banks of the Demerara River, facilitating the daily movement of thousands of vehicles, persons and cargo.
Hence, the new bridge across the Demerara River is a critical component of the Government’s drive to expand and modernise Guyana’s transport infrastructure, and will address the challenges faced by users of the current bridge by providing safe, efficient and effective crossing.
Upon completion, it is also expected to lay the groundwork for other economic opportunities for Regions Three and Four, including agriculture development, tourism, construction, housing and commerce.