Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 03, 2016 News
Despite assurances that the traffic situation on the Demerara Harbour Bridge and along the Eastern and Western Banks of the Demerara River is under control, commuters have been saying otherwise.
Their call to have better traffic management systems in place, especially in that area – where the West Bank traffic merges with the East Bank – has been ongoing for years, and fingers have been pointing at the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC).
The DHBC says that it has been doing all in its power to ease the flow of traffic and at the same time, balance the demands of both vehicular traffic and sea-bound vessels, however, the task is somewhat challenging.
General Manager of the DHBC, Rawlston Adams told this publication yesterday that the bridge traffic “should not be seen in isolation” with the traffic situation on the Eastern and Western Banks of the Demerara River.
“The traffic issue has to be taken and looked at in totality and not just the bridge. You have to look at how it’s (traffic) feeding onto the bridge, how it’s discharged off the bridge,” Adams said.
He stated that the DHBC has taken several measures to allow the smooth flow of traffic in the mornings. One of these measures being the adjusting of the 05:30 hrs (5:30 a.m.) openings to 5 a.m.
Adams indicated that he is aware of some traffic violations which occur on the bridge and the DHBC is working with the Guyana Police Force to address those issues.
CHANGE IN PEAK PERIODS
The General Manager said that when the traffic increased, they began looking at the double lanes and the duration. After a study was conducted, it revealed that the East Bank peak period was between 7:15 and 7:20 a.m., so it assisted in getting the West Bank traffic to flow smoothly. However, due to the East Bank Road Expansion project, it has forced commuters to leave much earlier, therefore the East Bank peak is coinciding with the West Bank peak.
WILL THERE BE ADDITIONAL DOUBLE LANES DURING PEAK HOURS?
Many commuters have – since the double-lane was implemented – asked that another double-lane be implemented between 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to facilitate the traffic build-up during that period.
Adams stated that it would be difficult to accommodate this, since maintenance would have to be carried out in the morning, as well as the accommodation of special crossing for heavy-duty machinery at 11 a.m.
A balance has to be maintained, Adams said, where the machinery must be allowed to cross due to the infrastructural projects being carried out on the West Bank.
WILL MAINTENANCE WORKS AND MOVEMENT OF OCEAN-GOING VESSELS BE RESTRICTED DURING THE DAY?
Adams stated that while some works are carried out during the nights, there is still need for maintenance to be carried out during the day. He pointed out that if one specific maintenance crew should work at night, there will be need to have other departments on duty as well.
“We do make enough money to cover our operations during the nights, it sends up our costs…We do not have enough revenue,”
With regard to having openings only at nights, Adams stated that it is currently in the pipeline.
He continued that the DHBC has just recently received the survey works, which was commissioned by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), to determine alignments.
This came in wake of a meeting that was held with shippers who expressed concerns about alignments and night retractions.
“There has been some consideration about transiting during the day… going south-bound; they have no problems coming east-bound.”
Adams stated that there are some issues that still need to be ironed out to have night retractions.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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