Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said government is advertising for expression of interest for the construction of the new bridge to link Regions Three and Four.
The prime minister told media operatives that government continues to takes steps to have a new bridge, noting that the Public Works Ministry has been putting out tenders for contractors.
Public Works Minister Robeson Benn said the initiative is a step by step process and will take time for the sake of clarity.
“It is a pre-feasibility study that has identified a number of locations for the bridge; the study is intended to be a guide. The final feasibility study itself and to identify resources and agencies and financial structure that should be brought into the construction process,” he added.
The minister said these spots will be evaluated, perhaps with another couple of sites in the feasibility study.
“We have advertised for express of interest and some forms came in on that and we have to develop on that interest from there,” Benn stated.
In September, Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) General Manager Rolston Adams said a pre-feasibility study was completed for the construction of the new bridge.
The study, he said will assist greatly in the reduction of traffic congestion on the East Bank corridor.
Adams said a general study was conducted which looked at all the different types of bridges that could be constructed, but government is looking to build a fixed structure.
Some of the locations looked at were the existing location where the bridge is, one at New Hope, East Bank Demerara and the third site is at Versailles in Houston.
He explained that suggestions in relation to the study were given to a consultant and feedback should be available by month-end.
This report will then be handed over to Minister Benn, after which it will be sent to Cabinet for approval.
The current Harbour Bridge is a 6074-foot long floating toll bridge. It was commissioned on July 2, 1978.
The bridge crosses the Demerara River, four miles south of Georgetown, from Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara to Schoonord, West Bank Demerara.
