Although not yet repaired, the Pirara Bridge in the Rupununi has been reopened to facilitate light traffic.
This was revealed by Region Nine Chairman Bryan Allicock who told Stabroek News that the truck which wrecked part of the bridge was removed on Monday and that planks were placed to allow for light vehicular crossing. As of yesterday afternoon, he said, only light traffic is allowed onto the bridge but they were working to ensure that the oil tankers stuck on the other side of the bridge can cross by nightfall.
Emergency remedial works have since commenced.
A Ministry of Public Works official commented that it might be two weeks until the bridge will be able to facilitate heavy trucks.
The overladen truck on Saturday night destroyed a section of the bridge and emergency repairs worth $25 million are planned, according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill. A 50-foot section on the southern end of the bridge crumpled under the weight of the truck. No injury was reported.
Edghill announced that the government was already mapping out a plan for the replacement of timber bridges with concrete structures throughout the hinterland.
In May of 2018, this newspaper had reported when Allicock appealed to have major works done on the bridge, which he had said was in a deplorable condition. He said that the bridge posed a risk to all persons who traverse it regularly. Further, he emphasized that despite many calls being made to the then Ministry of Public Infrastructure, no major work had been done on the bridge and most of the residents were scared to cross it.
