-region awaiting funds for improved structure, says chairman
The Rupununi River Bridge near Katoonarib, which collapsed under the weight of an excavator last year, is yet to be fixed, more than 10 months later.
The plan is to build a “better, stronger bridge”, said Clarindo Lucas, the Chairman of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). The broken bridge had been constructed at a cost of $16M. The Chairman of the region said that work on the bridge had not yet started because they are awaiting funds to start construction for the improved bridge.
Lucas told Stabroek News yesterday that “technical persons will come up with a modified plan provided by authorized engineers so that can have a more sturdy bridge.” He stated that since the existing bridge will have to be modified, extra money will have to be allocated. He said this would be a challenge because of the economic constraints facing the country.
However, last December he had said that funding for the project had already been secured, since the Brazilian gold-mining company which owned the excavator has provided the money for the reconstruction of the bridge. He had said at the time, that it would have been repaired as soon as the weather permitted.
The Chairman said yesterday that discussions are being held with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to see if additional funding can be acquired and stated that other avenues are being looked at. Lucas explained that while the promise made by the Brazilian company still stands, additional funding is required.
He said that the bridge had not been built to take heavy traffic and this was why it had collapsed in the first place.
Currently residents are using the “river crossing” and Lucas opined that during the rainy season this would not be possible hence the need for the bridge to be completed as soon as possible. According to him the next rainy season may begin sometime in June. He said that he is optimistic that if funding is acquired quickly, work on the bridge can commence and the bridge completed in time for the rainy season.
On May 27 last year, a 35-tonne excavator was proceeding across the structure but half-way across, the bridge caved in and the machine plunged into the waters, which was at a high level at the time. According to reports, the driver was fortunately washed out of the excavator’s cabin by the rushing water and he managed to swim to shore. Several days later, a bulldozer and another excavator managed to pull the fallen excavator out of the river and it was repaired. Apart from the middle of the bridge being broken, the beams from the western bank to the middle were also cracked. Since the mishap the bridge has been closed.
It is only the second such structure in recent times to be built over the Rupununi River. The other bridge is located in the village of Karaudarnau in the South Rupununi.
