Toll-free crossing on all bridges from August 1- Pres. Ali

Mar 24, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News- President Irfaan Ali on Sunday announced that tolls to cross all three major bridges – Demerara, Berbice and Wismar will be toll-free from August 1 this year.

He made the announcement while addressing party faithful at a memorial to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late, Former President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan at Babu Jaan Port Mourant, Berbice. Ali, last year August, had first announced that the tolls will be removed from crossing the bridges when the new ones are completed. Government is currently building a new Demerara River Bridge as well as one in Wismar Linden. A new bridge for Berbice is also at the tendering stage.

Speaking at the memorial, President Ali said that the move by the government will bring ease in travel while eliminating financial burdens on thousands of commuters.

During the commissioning of the new Schoonord to Crane four-lane highway in Region Three last year, President Ali had announced that once the new Demerara River Bridge is completed, crossing the bridge will be free of cost. “On the completion of the new Demerara River Bridge, the toll for crossing will be free of cost,” he stated then. The US$260 million 2.8-kilometre new Demerara River Bridge, a key project to alleviate traffic congestion caused by the current Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB). The bridge was slated to be completed by this year. The new bridge is being constructed by China Railway Construction (International) Limited, with the Italian firm Politecnica overseeing the project. The bridge’s main span, located between Piers 34 and 35, will be 300 feet wide and 164 feet high, allowing Handymax-type vessels to pass through unobstructed. The towers supporting the span will rise 220 feet above the carriageway, making the total height of the structure 384 feet above water level. Once completed, the bridge will connect Regions Three and Four, playing a crucial role in enhancing efficiency and economic activity in the area.

With respect to a new Berbice River Bridge, President Ali had said then that government was in the process of discussing with the Berbice Bridge Company the possible acquisition of that bridge. He said if the acquisition is not finalised by the time the new Demerara River Bridge is operational, the Berbice River Bridge crossing will also become toll-free simultaneously.

As it relates to the current Berbice River Bridge, that bridge was constructed between 2006 and 2008 at a cost of $8 billion, and received financial backing through loans and equity contributions from various entities, including the state-run National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and private investors. It must be noted that the bulk of the money invested in the Berbice Bridge came from NIS. Sharing ownership percentages in the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI): National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) holds 10 percent, NIS owns 20.2 percent, and other stakeholders include Hand-in-Hand Fire Insurance (10 percent), New GPC (20 percent), Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. (20 percent), and Secure International Finance Co. Limited (20 percent).

Back in January this year, this newspaper reported that seven pre-qualified international contractors have been shortlisted to bid for the design and construction of the new Berbice River Bridge project.

Last year, the Ministry of Public Works sought EOIs for the designing, building and financing of the new Berbice River Bridge. In October last year, nine contractors submitted bids. They were China Road & Bridge Corporation (China); Ashoka Buildcon Limited (India); China Railway Construction Caribbean Limited (China) in jointed venture with China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Company Limited (T&T); Shandong High-speed Road & Bridge Company Limited (China) in jointed venture with AJM Enterprise; China Railway First Group Company Limited (China) in jointed venture with China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Company Limited (China); Rockey & Son Construction (local); Kalpataru Projects International Limited (India); Vishwa Samudra Engineering Private Limited (India); and Aecon Global Services (Canada). President Irfaan Ali had announced that his government intended to construct a fixed high-span crossing bridge across the Berbice River. “We are already understanding for the future needs of this region. That is why we are accelerating the plans for a fixed high-span crossing bridge across the Berbice River just like the one in the Demerara River,” President Ali said. He had initially announced the construction of a new bridge in Berbice in October 2022. The structure is expected to mirror the US$260 million new Demerara River Bridge.

With regard to the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge, in January 2024, the government and China Railway Construction Corporation Limited signed a US$35M contract for its construction. The four-lane bridge is expected to be completed in two years. It will be pre-cast and will measure 220 meters. It will carry all road safety signs, lighting and have a 32-meter horizontal clearage and 11.5 meters vertical clearage. It will be constructed in the vicinity of West Watooka, Wismar.

(Toll-free crossing on all bridges from August 1- Pres. Ali)

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