The Berbice Bridge has begun to take shape with the installation of one section and is set for completion mid 2008 with investors already receiving interest payments on the money they put in to finance the US$40M project.
The company yesterday took members of the media on a tour meant to give an update on the progress of the project.
At the end of the construction period the company would have mobilised the staffing necessary to manage and maintain the bridge for the next 21 years. The bridge is said to have a lifespan of over 30 years.
Chairperson of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) Geeta Singh-Knight said that investors in the bridge have already begun receiving interest on their investment and repayment of the principal will begin in eight years.
BBCI’s six common shareholders are Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO), the NIS, the Hand in Hand Fire Insurance Company, Secure Inter-national Finance, Demerara Engineers & Contractors Limited (a subsidiary of DDL), and New GPC.
Other investors in the project are Republic Bank Limited, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Citizen’s Bank, Demerara Bank, Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), Hand in Hand Trust Corporation, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the New Building Society (NBS).
The company will hand over the bridge to the Government in 21 years. Engineer Bert Carter, a Board member, said that the bridge when completed will be the sixth longest floating bridge in the world at 1,570.719 metres and noted that the Demerara Harbour Bridge is the fourth longest of its kind in the world.
The average toll for a vehicle will be around $1,000 but no charge will be levied for individual passengers. This amount was calculated on the basis of a formula intended to secure sufficient revenue to cover all operating and maintenance costs, return on investment and repayment on financing.
Singh-Knight said that the contract amounts are fixed and changes in procurement costs wouldn’t change anything. She said that BBCI hopes to use an automated system or an easy-pass system rather than paper tickets payment of toll. She noted that people were willing to pay much more than the company was prepared to charge to cross the river unimpeded.
BBCI Company Secretary Winston Brassington said that the Highway Code will apply to the operation of the bridge and vehicles will be weighed to ensure that weight restrictions are enforced.
There will be no lovers strolling on the bridge as in the case with the Demerara Harbour Bridge since there is no walkway for pedestrians. It is still unclear whether pedal cyclists will be allowed to use the bridge.
The bridge will be shorter than the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the width will be the same, about 22 feet.
The surface of the bridge is coated with an epoxy resin and then overlaid with calcined bauxite, making the bridge virtually skid free.
The bridge will be located downstream of the existing ferry route, starting from the village of D’Edward on the western bank to Crab Island on the eastern bank where the width of the crossing is 1.5 kilometres.
Singh-Knight said that since the signing of the bridge construction contract by BBCI with the consortium of Bosch Rexroth and Mabey & Johnson, work is progressing apace. She said that the Technology Development and Systems Design Phases have been completed. “To date 191 40-foot containers of equipment and components have arrived in the country from England and Holland. This represents approximately 75 per cent of the total material to be shipped for this project,” she said.
A total of 25 of the 39 pontoons have arrived in the country and the remaining 14 will arrive in the country before the end of the year. The average pontoon weighs 80 tonnes. The pontoons will form the basis of the floating bridge.
She said that the MMA compound at Rosignol has been specially prepared for the site office, de-stuffing of containers, storage of bridge components, assembly of bridge spans and the pre-assembly or launching pad. Two spans have been completely assembled and positioned on the launching pad.
To date the contractor has successfully installed seven anchors into the riverbed on the western side. Singh-Knight said that the installation of these anchors results in the assembling of the first bridge span, which is on the launching pad along the alignment of the bridge in the Berbice River.
She said that dredging of the western side is substantially complete and completion of a generator building at D’Edward and installation of primary power by the Guyana Power and Light is in progress. She added that the preliminary designs for the toll plaza, operation and maintenance building and public facilities have also been completed.
Elated
Berbicians are elated that the long-awaited bridge would finally become a reality. Some commuters told Stabroek News that the ferry service at the Transport & Harbour Department (T&HD) seems “hopeless.”
A West Berbice woman who works in New Amsterdam said she is “really looking forward to using the bridge. Soon I would not have to worry about getting to work late and about reaching home late in the evenings anymore.”
Another commuter said he is aware that with the toll system, transportation cost would go up but he does not mind as many times he spends extra to use the launch service at Blairmont anyway. The man told this newspaper that the bridge would bring about positive changes in Berbice and would be a boost to the economy.
Acting president of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, attorney-at-law, Adrian Anamayah told SN, “That is the best thing that can happen for Berbice.”
He said it would result in a “big impact” on businesses, noting that Berbice businesses have to be more competitive because businesses from other area would have easy access.
He is also of the view that the bridge would enhance the tourism sector since the ferry has deterred many persons from visiting Berbice – as was the case when persons came for Cricket World Cup.
“A lot of overseas-based Berbicians even told me they would not return until there is the bridge.
It is very frustrating to wait at the stellings because of the inefficiency of the T&HD,” Anamayah said.
“In terms of activities, when the chamber held the recent expo one of the stellings was under repairs and that affected the turnout at the gate tremendously.”
Attorney-at-law, Rohan Chandan of New Amsterdam said, “It would be great for Berbicians and the country as a whole to finally benefit from the bridge across the river. People go through lots of heartache daily to cross with the ferry. ”
He said many people “dread” crossing the river with the ferry because a whole day is lost and too many man hours are wasted.
According to Chandan, “We need the time to do more important things. People are comparing the time it takes to get across the river to the time it takes to get to North America. With the bridge you can plan a trip and know when to leave and what time you are likely to return home. This would definitely save a lot of hassle and headache.”
Chairman of Region Five Harrinarine Baldeo said that the project will be a good thing for Berbice given the delays experienced at the ferry crossing. He said that the bridge will benefit “beyond borders” since people from French Guiana and Suriname will be able to travel in a much faster manner.
