Kumaka bridge 85% complete
─ minimal works remain
DPI, Guyana, Monday, October 7, 2019
Kumaka is a vibrant commercial hub within the North West district that has a spectacular waterfront known to come alive at dawn. It will soon have a key structural component completed in November. This comes as the reconstruction of the Kumaka bridge swiftly moves along.
Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Region 1, Kumaka bridge, Kumaka Wharf, Mabaruma, Compound Road, Hinterland Engineer, Jeffrey Walcott, Mazule Hutson
The bridge’s deck was recently built. It stands firm, with 85% of works completed. This deck will be the platform that commuters will use to traverse the bridge.
In addition to those works, engineer within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Mazule Hutson said the main structural components of the bridge have been finished. “The outstanding works involve the construction of guard rails of the bridge, an approach slab that will transition commuters from the road onto the bridge, and traffic paintings and signs,” Hutson related.
Minor works on the revetment, leading to the bridge and the approaches on both sides of the bridge, are currently being done.
Measuring 60 feet in length, the Kumaka bridge will link the Kumaka Wharf and the Mabaruama administrative area, thereby promoting movement of goods and services.
This major development is not occurring in isolation. Under the same project, the rehabilitation of Compound Road in Mabaruma is underway. Once finished, these works will showcase 160 feet of concrete rigid pavement, a surface tested and known to be durable for hinterland communities.
In August, Hinterland Engineer within the Public Infrastructure Ministry reflected on the early stages of Mabaruma’s transformation during 2018. At the time 3,500 feet of ridged pavements along Compound Road was a foreign concept for the community.
“We continue to construct rigid pavement designs because we found that it is working a lot better than the asphalt and the double bituminous surface treatment (DBST) roads. The roads in Mabaruma… have been neglected for a long time so this is a complete makeover with a structure that will be around for another 25 to 30 years,” Walcott revealed.