The Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) and the IAST have expedited a pilot project that aims to determine whether used tyres mixed with bitumen and used as a surface treatment for deck plates can increase skid resistance.
A Government Information Agency (GINA) press release said DHB General Manager Rawlston Adams noted that the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) had indicated to him that the technology to conduct such a project was available. The project started in the latter part of 2009. Adams said the new plates promote “smooth” travelling and as such persons may be inclined to journey at a fast rate but this application will help to reduce accidents.
Currently the IAST is in possession of 11 deck plates and it is expected to return them to the DHB by mid-March for installation in critical locations. Adams pointed out that what matters is not the number of plates that have the new surface but the placement of the said plates. He said the DHB will be monitoring the deck plates to determine if they are effective. “If the pilot project is successful all the new deck plates will benefit from this technology. The old deck plates that do not require replacement will remain with the asphalt treatment that was applied previously,” he said.
According to Adams this collaborative project will not only allow travellers to commute safely but it lends to a cleaner environment. He noted that it will decrease the build-up of old tyres at dump sites and in other areas.