US$35M contract signed for modern four-lane Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge

– not a “stand-alone infrastructure” – Pres Ali

The Guyana Government has signed a contract to the tune of US$35 million for the construction of a new four-lane bridge at Wismar in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) – a facility that will serve as a critical link in the road network that is being built out with the aim of making Guyana a transport and logistic hub in the Region.
On Friday morning, President Dr Irfaan Ali witnessed the inking of the agreement and participated in the sod-turning ceremony for the new structure across the Demerara River at Wismar in the mining town of Linden.
During his remarks, the Head of State highlighted the important role this new bridge will play for the country.
“This bridge is not a stand-alone infrastructure… This bridge is linked to the 45 bridges that we’re doing along the Linden-Lethem Highway that would create immense opportunities in positioning Region 10 as an engineering and mechanical hub, and a transport and logistics hub not only for mining for also for the trade that would exist between Brazil and Guyana, and Caricom (Caribbean Community),” the President noted.

Currently, the Government is embarking on a series of infrastructure projects that will create a road network from the Corentyne in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) to improve access to Northern Brazil.
Some of these major projects include the Corentyne River Bridge that will link Guyana and Suriname; upgrades to existing roads and the creation of new highways in Berbice as well as on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and the Linden to Lethem Road project which is currently being done in phases.
Meanwhile, the Head of State further noted that this new bridge is also a significant link in Region 10, which is undergoing massive development due to the investments made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government over the past three years. He added it will play an even greater role as the economy of the region, especially Linden, continues to grow due to enhanced activities.

“The number of times vehicles traversed this bridge was 768,000 in 2020. Today, we have more than 1.5 million crossings – almost doubling the crossings from 2020 to now. What is the reason for that? It is because something is happening, something positive is happening. Positive change is taking place. Investment is creating wealth. Wealth is creating opportunity. Opportunity is creating improvement. Improvement is creating prosperity,” Ali posited.
The new MacKenzie/Wismar Bridge will be built by China Railway and Construction – the same company that is constructing the new US$260 million bridge across the Demerara River. The contract, which was signed on Friday by Permanent Secretary of the Public Works Ministry Vladim Persaud and Managing Director of China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Co Ltd, Dong Sheng Li, has a two-year timeline for the completion of the structure.
This four-lane bridge will be a pre-cast structure running 220 metres long and will include vital safety features such as lighting and signs. It will boast a maximum horizontal clearance of 32 metres and a vertical clearance of 11.5 metres.
The new bridge will land some distance away from the original single-lane bridge built by the Demerara Bauxite Company from 1965 to 1967.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill disclosed that this new bridge was initially a US$30 million two-lane designed structure. But now, a four-lane bridge will be built at almost the same cost, that is, US$35 million.
“The previous Government proposed for the building of a two-lane bridge across the Wismar area. Today, we are building a four-lane bridge… We are building a four-lane bridge not just to say that we did better than the previous Government – that’s not on our agenda. The reason why we are building a four-lane is that the PPP/C Administration, led by President Ali has grown the economy, has expanded our possibilities and the demand has now moved from beyond a two-lane to a four-lane bridge,” Edghill stated.

Back in June 2023, Guyana signed a historic US$150 million loan with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to finance several transformational infrastructural projects in the country including the construction of the four-lane Wismar bridge.
The agreement included a US$50 million loan for the long-awaited four-lane Wismar Bridge.
At the signing last year, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad said this new bridge will have several benefits ranging from reducing traffic jams and enhancing road safety to economic opportunities. He pointed out that the bridge will also link to the existing road network on both sides of the Demerara River, ensuring easier access to nearby public facilities such as Mackenzie Hospital, and other Government facilities.
Several high-level officials including Ministers Deodat Indar and Susan Rodrigues, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Guo Haiyan, Opposition Members of Parliament, and Regional Chairman Deron Adams were also at Friday’s contract signing ceremony in Linden. (Vahnu Manickchand)