Manari Bridge construction to start in a month’s time
̶ structure in keeping with international standards
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, September 29, 2019
The Government’s plan for a superhighway linking Linden in Region Ten, all the way to Lethem in Region Nine, will soon see work beginning on another major aspect of the plan – construction of a concrete-structured Manari bridge. The current bridge is wooden.
Aerial shot of the new Manarai bypass.
On Sunday, during a visit to Region 9, Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Honourable, David Patterson made the announcement.
“The design has been completed for the Manari Bridge. I know persons have been asking why we haven’t started yet because the contract was awarded about three or four months ago, and it is a simple reason, everyone knows that we are building the Linden to Lethem road, where phase one starts in October. … “In my budget this year there is $200Million we have committed, we have a stockyard ready for both works, and we were awaiting the final design of the road.” Minister Patterson explained.
He noted that the bridge had to fit into the entire plan for the Linden to Lethem road. It will be constructed by engineers from Mott MacDonald, an international engineering, management, and development consultancy.
In the meantime, as he stopped to inspect the Manari Bypass which was constructed some months ago, Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Raphael Trotman, noted that construction of the bridge will begin very soon.
“The bridge is going to be a concrete bridge, not a wooden bridge so we wanted to ensure it had the right width and of course density of concrete etc. Minister Trotman stated.
He said through foresight the government had placed into the 2019 budget a sum of money for the first phase, so work could start while they waited on the British funding to come on stream.
Though the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is the lead agency on the project, the Ministry of Natural Resources is lending support to ensure the road remains passable before, during and after the rainy season while the road is under construction.