The bridge at Suddie on the Essequibo Coast featured in a report in our April 14, 2008 edition has almost reached completion, thanks to remedial works undertaken by the Regional Administration Region Two.
But even though it isn’t yet fully completed, the bridge is in a much better state than when this newspaper visited two weeks ago.
Regional Chairman Alli Baksh confirmed to Stabroek News that some work had been done by the region although more was still required. He said the region was undertaking the operation even though its budget was small.
Further, the remedial work had been delayed because its front-end loader had been out of service for some time.
According to one resident, the bridge seemed alright at the moment, but he was fearful for the integrity of the surface if the rains came. He said the surface of the bridge had been further built up and bolstered by the addition of loam after some degree of compacting.
The region had taken over the contract from the second contractor, after this company and a previous one only partially completed construction of the bridge. A number of reasons, including rain and the constant use of the bridge by paddy-laden vehicles, were advanced as factors causing the delay.
The region through the Regional Tender Board had reviewed the first contract and had it revoked, awarding it to the second contractor. Even though the basic structure of the bridge is there, the loose material on top of it makes it messy for pedestrians and difficult for vehicular traffic to negotiate.
When this newspaper had visited the bridge on the first occasion, the earth at the sides of the structure appeared loose and vulnerable to erosion, and looked as though it was poised to fall into the trench.
This newspaper was told that when it rained, vehicles would get caught in the quagmire that formed on the bridge and some of them even had to dump their load of sand or other material on the spot so they would be light enough to be towed off.
This newspaper tried to speak to both Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo and Regional Executive Officer Desmond Kissoon to get the overall cost of the project but they were both away.
