Section of old Demerara Harbour Bridge to link Sandhills–Timehri crossing

As preparations continue for the grand opening of the US$260 million new bridge across the Demerara River this weekend, the Guyana Government has identified at least one location where a section of the current Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) will be relocated to.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Friday confirmed that parts of the steel floating structure will be going to connect Timehri to Sandhills, a small village located on the Demerara River just opposite the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

“I can tell you for sure, sections of the bridge, both the retractor and accepter spans, and other segments will be going to do the Sandhills–Timehri crossing – to make the road that we’re building from Sandhills falling into Bartica accessible,” the Minister told reporters at a briefing on Friday afternoon.

While he confirmed the Sandhills–Timehri crossing location, the Public Works Minister pointed out that the technical team at the Ministry is still actively discussing how to utilise the remaining sections of the 1.85-kilometre (km)-long steel bridge that has outlived its 20-year lifespan.

“In the other areas, there are lots of discussions, and I would not want to announce that here, but I can tell you what is certain and what is sure (the Sandhills–Timehri crossing),” Edghill stated.

Only back in July, President Dr Irfaan Ali had hinted that the old Demerara Harbour Bridge could be used to link Timehri to Sandhills, noting that this connection would open up lots of opportunities.
It would take commuters to Foulmouth, which would connect to the Parika–Goshen Road.

“…that would interconnect with this Sand Hills Road that would take us into Bartica, into the interior, so we are now connecting all of the regions,” the Head of State had said.

He added that “the Sandhills–Timehri Hills Road will open up hundreds of thousands of new acres of land for housing, sand mining, agriculture and large areas for forestry.”

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Public Works had issued an invitation for bids for the road link between Parika and Goshen.

The Government had also previously touted using the old Demerara Harbour Bridge to bridge the Berbice River at Kwakwani or bridging the Essequibo islands of Leguan and Wakenaam.

With the new Demerara River Bridge set to open on Sunday for public use, the Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed off to vehicular traffic and remain retracted, thus allowing for the free flow of marine traffic.

“Marine traffic will become accessible without being encumbered by the old Demerara River Bridge. It will be retracted [and] remain retracted until removed, as the components are needed in the various areas that it will be going to,” Minister Edghill noted.