The Government is conducting negotiations to conclude an agreement for the four-lane bridge at Wismar, Linden, with a view of starting construction by the end of the year.
President Dr Irfaan Ali, alongside Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, over the weekend engaged residents of 58 Miles, Region 10.
During his presentation at the meeting, the Finance Minister spoke of the various projects being carried out in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). One such project is the Linden to Lethem Road.
“The number of major transformative projects that will improve lives in Region 10 is a long list. We have the Linden to Lethem Road, which of course will transform lives for everybody in Region 10, but also in Region Nine and Region Eight,” he said.
Speaking of the Mackenzie to Wismar Bridge, Dr Singh explained that even now, negotiations are ongoing for an agreement for this bridge, which will be a four-lane bridge and is expected to cost about US$35 million.
It had previously been reported that Chinese contractor China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, which is building the new Demerara River crossing, was also being engaged on the Wismar bridge.
“We have the bridge across the Demerara River in Wismar, right now a team is engaged in negotiation to conclude that agreement so we can start building a new bridge across the Demerara River at Wismar. Four lanes across the river,” the Finance Minister said.
“And you know how critical that is for moving not only people, but also goods. And you know when goods can move freely, how that impacts on people’s lives. The shops will be well-stocked. Cost of living will be improved because of course you have freer movement of goods, lowered cost of moving goods.”
In June of this year, the Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration had signed a historic US$150 million loan with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) which will go towards the construction of over 2000 houses and the long-awaited four-lane Wismar-McKenzie Bridge in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) that will be built parallel to the existing one.
It was subsequently explained by Minister Edghill that these funds will be used for the construction of access roads and associated civil construction for the bridge. In August of this year, $2.1 billion was approved by the National Assembly to construct the Wismar bridge.
The current Wismar bridge has only one vehicle lane and is over 50 years old. However, the new Wismar-McKenzie Bridge the Government intends to build is a four-lane one that will be able to facilitate the increased volume of traffic through Region 10.
Back in 2020, Italian engineering company Politecnica had unveiled designs for a new bridge. The company had been contracted by the then Public Infrastructure Ministry to do a feasibility study for the bridge.
The company had designed a two-road approach: one for the eastern river bank and the other for the western. On both sides, the design catered for new roundabouts which would connect the existing road networks. The bridge would also cater for two-lane traffic and pedestrian walkways.
According to the design, the bridge, road approaches and roundabouts would be equipped with street lights, underpass/culvert to maintain the continuity of existing roads, road safety barriers and sidewalks, and provision would be made for access to the Linden Hospital Complex at Mackenzie.
