One of the deck plates on the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) came loose yesterday morning, damaging a car and resulting in traffic being backed up on both sides for hours.
More than half an hour after the incident occurred, the management of the DHB posted a notice on the company’s Facebook page informing commuters of a “minor incident” resulting in the “disruption of the normal flow of vehicular traffic” and noted also that it was trying to rectify the issue.
In light of the posted notice, many persons questioned why the incident would be considered “minor” when the front of a car involved could be clearly seen to be badly damaged and had also suffered a flat tyre.
Stabroek News spoke with DHB General Manager, Wayne Watson, and he informed that the incident occurred at approximately 9.15 am yesterday. Watson pointed out that the deck plate was fitted back in and the damaged car towed about 45 minutes following the incident. However, traffic was backed up on both sides of the bridge close to the midday hour.
The General Manager confirmed that no one was injured as a result of the incident.
Watson blamed heavy laden and speeding trucks for the loose deck plates. “Whilst travelling on the bridge, the deck plate was raised and made contact with the front right side wheel of the car. The deck plates are secured but from time to time they would [loosen] because of a combination of speed and the weight of the trucks on the bridge.”
He added that of the 24,000 drivers that use the bridge daily, more than 1,500 are large trucks.
According to Watson, some time ago management met with the trucking association situated on the West Demerara side where concerns were raised about the trucks being able to access the bridge in a timely manner. As a result of the meeting, measures were put in place to accommodate those concerns.
However, Watson said that due to damage to the deck caused by the trucks, it has now become necessary to have another meeting with the association and that management and the association are expected to meet in the coming week to reach an agreement regarding the careful use of the bridge.
