The tug and barge which collided with the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) around 19:30 hrs on Sunday and caused damage to the tune of over $10 million, have been removed, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill told Stabroek News yesterday when contacted.
He said that the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) had “grounded” the vessels.
While the collision did not affect the flow of either land or marine traffic, Edghill said that the cost of repairs for the bridge was in excess of $10 million.
“The project engineer from the Ministry of Public Works has been sent the details to engage the contractor for full compensation. And as I said already whoever is responsible for the damage has to pay for it,” he said.
During a Facebook live on Sunday night, Edghill had stated that a full investigation would commence “by daybreak” into the tug and barge (OME Tone 1) which came into contact with spans 12, 13 and connected pontoons on the southern side of the DHB. He said it would be spearheaded by technical experts from MARAD and the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard.
The bridge was reopened to traffic yesterday morning after checks revealed that the damage did not impact its operation. According to an update from the DHB, the planned retraction and double lane crossing sche-duled for yesterday remained intact as the land and marine traffic flow continued.
