With the Demerara Harbour Bridge knocked out of commission yesterday morning many commuters travelling to the West Demerara had to do so in the darkness last night and up to press time all appears to have run smoothly.
With the hours for crossing extended up to 10 pm, a Stabroek News reporter took a trip across the river at around 7.25 pm from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) stelling where boats were loading passengers for the Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara Stelling. The round trip took roughly 13 minutes.
There was a heavy police presence at the entrance of the facilities as well as along the walkway as scores of commuters hustled along to get to the boats. In addition to the police, there were also MARAD staff providing assistance.
When Stabroek News reached the MARAD stelling in Kingston, there were about seven docked boats waiting to be filled. As persons flowed along in a single line, the boats were being filled within minutes as three police boats monitored the departures.
It took about six minutes from the stelling to cross the river to Vreed-en-Hoop despite there being little lighting. Apart from the few lights that were on the boats there was additional lighting from two barges that were stationed on the river.
At Vreed-en-Hoop, there were significantly less persons trying to get to Georgetown. While it took a little more than two minutes to fill the boats at MARAD, at Vreed-en-Hoop it took a little more than five minutes.
There were three boats docked at Vreed-en-Hoop waiting to be filled, while boats came from Georgetown about every three minutes bringing passengers over.
Outside of the stelling at Vreed-en-Hoop, buses were waiting patiently for the crowds of passengers coming off of the boats. The police were also monitoring the situation.
Journeying from Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown took a little over six minutes and boats arrived about every five to seven minutes.
The boats arriving from Vreed-en-Hoop docked at the Georgetown stelling and there was also a heavy police presence as passengers went to the bus park. (Dhanash Ramroop)
