Bridge to open Tuesday, but approach unfinished

Dec 21, 2008 News

The Berbice River Bridge cannot be opened to traffic unless the access road is functional, President Bharrat Jagdeo said yesterday.

At present, the Head of State said, workers are working assiduously to have at least one lane opened for Tuesday.

The access road, he said, is costing more than anticipated, since the design has changed.

“We do not know if we will still be able to complete in time. I advised them to put crusher-run and let people just drive on it.

I am sure that the public would prefer to drive on it than to wait hours for the ferry service…it’s just for convenience,” President Jagdeo said.

He added that the toll for cars and minibuses would be about $1,100, paid at both ends of the bridge.

This amount, he noted, is not significant, since it is similar to the price currently being paid with the ferry service.

On Friday, one of the directors of the Bridge, Bert Carter, said that the structure will be open on Tuesday as was initially anticipated.

Despite heavy rains, Carter said, works are ongoing.

Chairperson of the project, Geeta Singh-Knights, had said that assurances were given that the road will be prepared in order to facilitate vehicular traffic by the opening date.

After construction, the BBCI will operate the bridge on a toll basis, using a formula that will secure sufficient revenue to cover all operating and maintenance costs, give a return on the investment, and repay financing.

The bridge will be handed over to Government after 21 years.