…temporary bridge constructed to ease traffic pile-up
Gaico Construction on Monday officially commenced rebuilding the Bagotville Bridge on the West Bank of Demerara, some two months after it began to sink owing to heavy rainfall and erosion. A temporary bridge has been constructed near the site in efforts to ease traffic congestion.
The sinking bridge
The temporary bridge was built of greenheart lumber. The Public Infrastructure Ministry sought an additional $120 million under its bridges programme for the reconstruction and critical rehabilitation works for the Bridge.
The Bridge is expected to be completed within two to three months.
The temporary bridge bridge in the final stage of construction
Affected persons had pleaded with the Ministry to have the structure rehabilitated since it was hindering the smooth flow of traffic causing an unnecessary build-up.
An engineer on site told Guyana Times that the old bridge would be demolished and replaced with the full steel structure to withstand the weight of heavy-duty vehicles, which often traverse the bridge. He further explained that the new structure would be able to withstand corrosion and heavy traffic.
The Bridge links La Grange to Bagotville and beyond.
