By Delicia Janneire | November 15, 2024
The installation of the first precast girder decking for the New Demerara River Bridge marks a significant milestone in the ongoing construction of the bridge.
Public Works Minister, Hon. Juan Edghill, was on-site to witness the installation, emphasizing that the project is progressing steadily and the March 2025 deadline remains achievable.
The girder installation phase began with the girders being placed between the abutments and the piers, spanning a distance of 42 meters.
A total of 472 girders will be installed on the bridge, with eight girders being positioned between each pair of piers.
Engineer Patrick Thomson from the Public Works Ministry provided an update, noting that once the first eight girders are installed, the launcher will be moved to continue placing the remaining girders toward the central span of the bridge.
Currently, the project is 75% complete, with the bridge itself nearing 60% completion.
Minister Edghill highlighted that there are no major issues at present that could delay the project, with the main challenges having already been addressed, particularly in terms of shipping logistics.
However, he noted that human factors could influence the pace of progress, though he remains optimistic about meeting the deadline.
The bridge towers, which are the highest part of the structure, currently stand at 73.5 meters.
By December, they are expected to reach a height of 112 meters when completed.