New Demerara River Bridge 70% complete—Edghill

Of the US$260 million allocated for the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge, approximately US$150 million has been utilised to date, advancing the project to nearly 70 percent completion.
The bridge is being constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, with oversight provided by the supervisory firm Politecnica.
On Thursday, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, conducted an inspection of the construction on the eastern side of the bridge, emphasising the significant benefits it will provide to commuters.
“This new Demerara Bridge is a hallmark of transformative development. The focus must remain on the immense benefits it will bring to thousands of people, and we are steadily seeing this project become a reality,” the minister stated.
Significant progress has been made, including the completion of temporary working platforms, installation of drilled shafts, pile caps, piers, and tower legs. Additionally, the bridge’s design includes a 300-metre-wide safety passage, a notable increase from the original 100 metres, to reduce the risk of collisions. The foundation structure has been reinforced with materials capable of withstanding potential impacts.
Minister Edghill also highlighted that technical engineers from the contracting company have travelled to China to test additional components and materials required for the project. The final shipment of these materials is expected to arrive in Guyana by October.
As part of the contract, the company is responsible for constructing 50 metres of road on both the eastern and western sides of the bridge.
“They have already completed 50 metres of road, and we are now at an advanced procurement stage for additional roadworks, with the contract signing expected shortly,” the minister disclosed.
He added that connector roads have been established to facilitate traffic flow on the Heroes Highway and the East Bank of Demerara.
Addressing concerns raised by some media outlets, Minister Edghill clarified that there are no disputes between the government and property holders in the Peter’s Hall area.
“All of the land required for the bridge to pass through the Peter’s Hall area has already been vested in the state. We negotiated with approximately 50 property holders through the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Public Works, and most of these matters have been resolved,” the minister explained.
He assured that the government has compensated residents at fair market value.