The Demerara Harbour Bridge is a 6,074-foot (1,851 m) long floating toll bridge. It was commissioned on 2 July 1978.[1] The bridge crosses the Demerara River 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the Guyanese capital Georgetown, from Peter's Hall, Demerara-Mahaica, East Bank Demerara to Schoon Ord, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, West Bank Demerara. There is a pedestrian footwalk. A raised section lets small vessels pass under. A retractor span lets large vessels pass.
The bridge has 61 spans. A high-level span provides a horizontal clearance of 32.0 metres (105.0 feet) and a vertical clearance of 7.9 metres (26 feet) to let small craft pass at all times. To let large craft pass, two retractor spans retract fully once per day[2] to leave a horizontal clearance of 77.4 metres (254 feet).
The number vehicles transiting per day was approximately 9,000 in 2015,[1] and 14,000 as of 2017[update].[3]
Although the bridge was designed to last ten years, it has been so successful that it has inspired the Berbice Bridge, completed in 2008.
Construction of the Demerara Harbour Bridge began on 29 May 1976. The basic design was by Capt. John Patrick Coghlan, with construction assistance was provided by the British Government. The bridge was only designed to last 10 years, yet it is still in use.[1][4] Tolls are collected only in east-to-west travel even though the bridge handles one lane of traffic in each direction.
On Monday 23 July 2012 at 06:45 Span 61, the western retractor span collapsed during maintenance work,[5] causing it to partly sink, trapping a minibus. No injuries resulted but as all the larger ferries are decommissioned it caused major disruption.
Managementedit
The Demerara Harbour Bridge is managed by the Management and Monitoring Unit, Demerara Harbour Bridge Rehabilitation Project (MMU), a subsidiary of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW). MMU, however functions independently of the MPW, and maintains a full staff responsible for maintenance, management, construction and operation. MMU also maintains financial independence based on revenue earned from tolls (vehicle and water-borne vessels). They have a staff of about 60 people.
New Demerara River Bridgeedit
In December 2015 tenders were received from twenty-three international and local companies for a new bridge.[1] In August 2017 plans were announced to construct a new bridge two kilometres north of the existing bridge, linking Houston on the eastern bank to Versailles on the western bank.[6] However, breaches in procurement due to "unsolicited proposals" delayed plans.[7] In 2020, a new request for bid was issued, with proposed connection between Nandy Park to the east and Meer Zorgen/La Grange to the west, and construction is now under way.[8]
demerara, harbour, bridge, foot, long, floating, toll, bridge, commissioned, july, 1978, bridge, crosses, demerara, river, miles, south, guyanese, capital, georgetown, from, peter, hall, demerara, mahaica, east, bank, demerara, schoon, essequibo, islands, west. The Demerara Harbour Bridge is a 6 074 foot 1 851 m long floating toll bridge It was commissioned on 2 July 1978 1 The bridge crosses the Demerara River 4 miles 6 4 km south of the Guyanese capital Georgetown from Peter s Hall Demerara Mahaica East Bank Demerara to Schoon Ord Essequibo Islands West Demerara West Bank Demerara There is a pedestrian footwalk A raised section lets small vessels pass under A retractor span lets large vessels pass Demerara Harbour BridgeDemerara Harbour Bridge in 2019Coordinates6 46 19 N 58 11 15 W 6 771916 N 58 18744 W 6 771916 58 18744CarriesCars pedestriansCrossesDemerara RiverLocalePeter s Hall Georgetown to Schoon OrdCharacteristicsDesignPontoon bridgeTotal length7 000 metres 23 000 ft Height7 9 metres 26 ft HistoryOpened2 July 1978LocationThe bridge has 61 spans A high level span provides a horizontal clearance of 32 0 metres 105 0 feet and a vertical clearance of 7 9 metres 26 feet to let small craft pass at all times To let large craft pass two retractor spans retract fully once per day 2 to leave a horizontal clearance of 77 4 metres 254 feet The number vehicles transiting per day was approximately 9 000 in 2015 1 and 14 000 as of 2017 update 3 Although the bridge was designed to last ten years it has been so successful that it has inspired the Berbice Bridge completed in 2008 Contents 1 History 2 Management 3 New Demerara River Bridge 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editConstruction of the Demerara Harbour Bridge began on 29 May 1976 The basic design was by Capt John Patrick Coghlan with construction assistance was provided by the British Government The bridge was only designed to last 10 years yet it is still in use 1 4 Tolls are collected only in east to west travel even though the bridge handles one lane of traffic in each direction On Monday 23 July 2012 at 06 45 Span 61 the western retractor span collapsed during maintenance work 5 causing it to partly sink trapping a minibus No injuries resulted but as all the larger ferries are decommissioned it caused major disruption Management editThe Demerara Harbour Bridge is managed by the Management and Monitoring Unit Demerara Harbour Bridge Rehabilitation Project MMU a subsidiary of the Ministry of Public Works MPW MMU however functions independently of the MPW and maintains a full staff responsible for maintenance management construction and operation MMU also maintains financial independence based on revenue earned from tolls vehicle and water borne vessels They have a staff of about 60 people New Demerara River Bridge editIn December 2015 tenders were received from twenty three international and local companies for a new bridge 1 In August 2017 plans were announced to construct a new bridge two kilometres north of the existing bridge linking Houston on the eastern bank to Versailles on the western bank 6 However breaches in procurement due to unsolicited proposals delayed plans 7 In 2020 a new request for bid was issued with proposed connection between Nandy Park to the east and Meer Zorgen La Grange to the west and construction is now under way 8 See also editList of bridges in GuyanaReferences edit a b c d 9000 vehicles transited DHB daily in 2015 Guyana Chronicle January 5 2016 Retrieved August 20 2017 Gov t seeking partner for new Demerara bridge Stabroek News 2013 10 21 Retrieved 2021 02 17 Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation Ministry of Public Works 2017 12 07 Retrieved 2021 03 16 Guyana Government Information Agency Archived 2015 07 21 at the Wayback Machine Small section of Demerara Harbour Bridge sinks no traffic likely until tomorrow Stabroek News July 23 2012 Retrieved August 20 2017 Construction of new Demerara River Bridge at Houston to begin next year Kaieteur News August 19 2017 Retrieved August 20 2017 Ministry breached procurement law in award of harbour bridge consultancy Stabroek News 2018 08 10 Retrieved 2021 02 17 New Demerara Harbour Bridge Project 27 completed Edghill Stabroek News 2023 10 24 Retrieved 2024 01 20 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Demerara Harbour Bridge Official website of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corp Demerara Harbor Bridge at Structurae Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Demerara Harbour Bridge amp oldid 1197343882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
