Existing Demerara Harbour Bridge likely for Kwakwani; Peter’s Hall road reopens midnight Sunday

Last Updated on Sunday, 6 April 2025, 21:52 by Writer

The completion of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge is on track for August 31, 2025, and eventually, the existing bridge might be used to link the Berbice River at Kwakwani, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said Sunday.

“We are on target for the new deadline, and that’s why we’ve added additional staff,” he said in response to a question by Demerara Waves Online News. He said more than 100 workers were added, and work was continuing around the clock.

He said the curing of the concrete for the main bridge structure would take some time, and that was the reason for construction to last until August. “The only curing is the main bridge, which links the two towers where you have to put in the cables, cast, wait for curing and that is what is taking us to August because you just can’t move faster,” he said.

Briefing reporters, he said the Peter’s Hall section of the East Bank Demerara Road would be reopened from midnight Sunday now that bridge works over the north-south road corridor have been completed.

Old Bridge likely for Kwakwani, Berbice River

The Public Works Minister said Head of the Transport Planning Unit, Engineer Patrick Thompson had already visited Kwakwani to examine the possibility of sections of the existing Demerara Harbour Bridge being used to cross the Berbice River at Kwakwani. “No final decisions have been made except positively proceeding with something that could happen at Kwakwani at this time in the first instance,” Mr Edghill said.

He virtually ruled out a section of the floating bridge being taken to cross the Kurupukari River, saying the rocks and rapids would be a humbug. Other options still on the table are linking Wakenaam and Leguan, a crossing for the Canje Creek.