Gov’t hopeful construction of Corentyne bridge will start next year 

Guyana’s government is hopeful that construction of the much- needed Corentyne River Bridge, which is expected to connect Guyana and Suriname, will start next year. 

This is according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who outlined the major transformational projects his government is pursuing during the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI) annual awards ceremony and gala on Thursday night. 

The Head of State said that improving the linkages among Guyana’s continental neighbours Suriname and Brazil is essential if Guyana is to push trade and business opportunities. 

As such, the establishment of this bridge is crucial. 

In May, a US$2 million contract with WSP Caribbean was inked in Suriname for the feasibility study and design of the Corentyne River Bridge. The contract spanned seven months and was expected to pave the way for the a contract award in early 2023. 

President Ali said that the full document detailing the financial proposal for the new Guyana/ Suriname bridge across the Corentyne river could be made available in January. 

With that document in the public domain, it is expected that bids for the bridge can be submitted subsequently. 

“We hope that the tendering process can be completed by mid next year, so that we can move to the implementation for the Corentyne bridge,” President Ali said at the event held at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown. 

It was previously noted that once the contract is awarded for the construction of the bridge, the project should be completed within three years. 

The durability of the bridge should be 100 years.

Both governments have jointly agreed to construct the bridge using the Public-Private Partnership method of procurement with a DBFOM (Design – Build – Finance – Operate – Maintain) model contract.

Once completed, the bridge will transform travel between Guyana and Suriname, forge stronger cultural bonds and knowledge sharing activities as well as improve economic activities.