Long lines of vehicles waited for hours to cross the Demerara Harbour Bridge yesterday, the commuters fuming at the long delay, which was due to maintenance work being done on the deteriorating structure.
Five hours later, they were able to cross but for some, planned activities had to be cancelled. Notices on the toll booths said that the bridge would have been closed from midday to 3 pm. At 4 pm, it was still closed and it was not until 5 pm that traffic was finally allowed to cross.
The long wait had some commuters angry. One man said that he was supposed to catch the boat to Leguan. Another was going to Essequibo. Yet another said that he was travelling to Bartica, and the prolonged closure had upset his plans. Many others had business to attend to and visits planned to relatives on the West Coast Demerara. It was the same for persons on the West Demerara who were coming to the city.
The deteriorating state of the bridge has been criticized by many including President Bharrat Jagdeo and over $600M had been budgeted to effect repairs.
Surujpaul Sahadeo, who was going to work on his house lot at Parfait-Harmonie yesterday afternoon, was stuck close to the head of the line for four hours. It was ridiculous, he said, adding that the bridge was “unreliable”. Another man asserted that the bridge personnel had “no regards for anybody”.
Commuters told Stabroek News that it was announced that the bridge would re-open at 3 pm. Then another announcement said that the bridge would re-open at 4 pm. Lines of vehicle stretched to Eccles and Providence. Around 5 pm the bridge was finally opened and the vehicles crossed the river.
