Several bridges and culverts are currently being built and rehabilitated around the country, including 16 critical structures along the East Bank Demerara and East Coast Demerara highways, among
According to a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), government allocated $1.9 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of several bridges around the country, with an additional $953 million for works on other structures. Additionally, a Transport Infrastructure Rehabilitation Programme was also funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and this allowed for the currently ongoing construction of 24 bridges and culverts from Timehri to Cottage, Mahaicony.
Bridges Engineer for the Works Services Group Sunil Ganesh told GINA that the scope of work, at a contract sum of US$6.4 million, has been subdivided into two groups and awarded to contractors Courtney Benn Contracting Service and R. Bassoo and Sons Construction.
Nine culverts have been completed at Soesdyke, Prospect, Garden of Eden, Coverden, Pearl, Sarah Johanna and Den Heuvel as well as five bridges in Annandale, Buxton, Friendship and Vigilance, and one along the East Bank Demerara. “Currently we have two bridges under construction; one at Sussex and Saffon Streets and the other at Friendship; also there are four culverts under construction from Garden of Eden to Soesdyke,” GINA quoted Ganesh as saying.
The widening of the Sussex Street Bridge, which commenced in January, is scheduled for completion by the end of May, if the weather permits. The completion of the widening of the Buxton Bridge, which will positively impact the traffic situation on that route, was also highlighted. The release added that work which began in June 2010 on nine culverts and five other bridges are scheduled for completion by mid-2011.
These bridges and culverts are being designed at a higher hydraulic capacity so that the amount of water flowing through them will increase, thus increasing drainage in the areas in which they are being constructed, the release said.
