Harmon to lobby Gov’t to keep old Harbour Bridge in operation

With government soon to commence construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said there is no reason for the current structure to be demolished.

Minister Harmon said that “two bridges are better than one” and noted that as Minister responsible for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), he will be lobbying for the upkeep of the bridge even after the new one is completed.

“I see absolutely no sensible reason to decommission one, where you have another one. I will lend my voice to that chorus which says that we should keep both bridges,” he told staff members and special invitees at the Demerara Harbour Bridge’s 40th-anniversary celebration Sunday at the Umana Yana.

The new Demerara River bridge will see the construction of an approximately 1,500m-long fixed bridge with a movable span and two approach roads of a total length of 600m. It is envisaged that the project will commence in 2018 and will be delivered in 2020.

A Feasibility Study and Design Report for the new Demerara River Bridge completed by consulting company, Lievense CSO determined that the proposed location of Houston-Versailles is the most ideal.

The structure, the report said, will provide the most socio-economic benefits for Guyana and led to the lowest urban environmental impact. Furthermore, it was recommended that the promotion of alternative transportation routes should be encouraged to lend to the longevity of the new bridge. (Department of Public Information)