President Bharrat Jagdeo says based on an urgent evaluation he ordered of the Demerara Harbour Bridge more than $600M will have to be spent to effect immediate repairs.
“It is going to cost us in excess of $600M (US$3M) and that is not the end of it,” the president said at a press conference hosted at State House on Wednesday. Jagdeo had ordered the assessment to be conducted on seeing the level of deterioration of the decking plates which were sourced locally, and other structural problems during a recent impromptu visit to the Bridge.
The president said he held detailed discussions with General Manager of the Bridge Rawlston Adams and Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and found that there were some unresolved issues about the traditional method of attaching the decking material to the high beams (transoms) at the bottom of the structure. Benn was asked to clarify the issue even as government is looking at sourcing materials.
Jagdeo said more funds would be needed to complete renovations to the Bridge but the said sum will be spent “in the nearer term over the next few months, in addressing this issue.”
