By Shawnette Fiedtkou
The construction process for the new four-lane Wismar/McKenzie bridge commenced in April this year and is slated for completion by April 2026, according to Joe Qiu, Project Manager of China Railway Company (CRCC).
Qiu provided an update on the project’s progress and plans during a briefing to the Regional Democratic Council on Thursday.
The project, valued at $35 million USD, aims to enhance infrastructure in Linden.
Qiu reported that the geotechnical investigation is now complete and the bridge has entered its design phase.
The next step involves constructing a detour route to facilitate the building of a temporary trestle bridge.
Qiu outlined the timeline for the upcoming phases of the project.
Piling works are scheduled to begin in November 2024 and are expected to be completed by April 2025.
This will allow for the installation of the bridge’s substructure, which should be finished by September 2025.
The installation of precast beams is planned for completion by November 2025.
Finally, the superstructure and auxiliary works will follow, leading to the bridge’s completion in April 2026.
China Railway is responsible for constructing the bridge itself, while the Ministry of Public Works will handle the connecting roads.
To minimize traffic congestion, material storage and fabrication will be conducted on the McKenzie shore.
During the meeting, Qiu and Abbey-Jaye Skeete, Public Liaison Officer for the new McKenzie/Wismar bridge, addressed questions from regional officials, providing additional details on the construction process.
The bridge will be built from east to west, with careful planning to ensure minimal disruption to the community.