New Demerara River Bridge is 27 per cent complete – Min. Edghill

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill on Monday announced that works on the US$260 million New Demerara River Bridge is progressing smoothly with some 27 per cent of works completed to date.

“We want to assure the nation that we expect to bring this project in on time and on schedule and we are working with the contractors. We’re not going to sleep on this project, we got to keep on it,” he said.

The remarkable engineering feat is being undertaken by China Railway Construction (International) Limited (CRCCL).

It is a hybrid cable stay beam guarder concrete bridge, built to United States American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards.

The crossing will consist of four lanes and will span 2.6 kilometres, connecting Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara to La Grange on the West Bank. Its total width, including the four lanes, shoulders, and median, will be 23.6 metres, providing ample space for safe and efficient traffic flow.

With a height of 50 metres, the bridge is specifically designed to accommodate Handymax vessels passing underneath. The minimum horizontal width of the navigation span is 210 metres, but the final design is anticipated to have a more extensive horizontal span.

Importantly, the bridge is engineered with a lifespan of 100 years.

This project is expected to be completed within 24 months, with the major works scheduled for completion by December 31, 2024.