Yesterday, President Irfaan Ali was informed during an inspection visit to the eastern side of the New Demerara Harbour Bridge, that 33 per cent of the construction has been completed and piles cast for the bridge will be visible by April 2024.
The bridge, under construction from both Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara, and La Grange, West Bank Demerara, currently has some 378 persons working to meet the construction deadline, according to video footage of the meeting.
The contracted company, China Railway Construction Caribbean Company Limited, has been working around the clock to make up for lost time and to stay ahead of schedule. Two new drilling machines are expected to complement the existing ones to accelerate drilling and preparatory pile works.
The company is the process of drilling and casting of piles to support the decking platform. Concrete has already been poured for 5 piles from the eastern side. According to the contractor, by January 6, 2024, they will commence pouring concrete on the western side of the bridge.
This phase of the work was described as the “tedious phase” which is crucial for the structural integrity of the bridge.
Ministry of Public Works Engineer and Project Engineer, Patrick Thompson, noted that once the subsurface work is completed, there will be rapid works above ground.
President Ali who was accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, also visited the landing site of the bridge and earmarked areas for a connecting road towards the bridge and the East Coast/East Bank Highway. The connecting roads are currently in design stage while Minister Indar explained that it will provide greater ease of travel between the West Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
