Tug and Barge crashed into DHB; shifts alignment

…works ongoing to repair damaged sections of bridge
…Businesses urged to delay movement of goods for 24 hours

Vehicular traffic across the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) was on Wednesday afternoon restricted after a tug and barge transporting bauxite crashed into the high span of the bridge, realigning it.

According to the DHB, at approximately 16:38h, Motor Tug and Barge named “Rediston and Surtrans” operated by Dale Andrews Green, collided with, and damaged several sections in the vicinity of the high span of the bridge.

The bridge was immediately closed to vehicular traffic and after some immediate interventions, at approximately 17:40h the bridge was reopened to light vehicular traffic.

Engineers and the technical team operating with the challenge of the dark, conducted an initial assessment after which an emergency meeting was held at the DHBC Boardroom comprising of the Chairman, Ravie Ramcharitar, Honorable Bishop Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works, supported by Honorable Robeson Benn, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Rawlston Adams, the General Manager and Technical Team.

“The Collective decision made after due consideration of all the information that was available was that at approximately 21:00hrs the bridge will begin to facilitate vehicular traffic up to 12tons which is the tonnage of an empty double axel lorry,” a statement said.

Further, contact was made with the owner/agent of the tug and barge and at about 16:00h on December 10, 2020 a meeting will be held convened at the Boardroom with representatives of the owner/agents of the tug and barge to facilitate an inspection of the damages which is necessary before remedial emergency repairs begin.

“The team, equipment and spares to effect the repairs have been mobilized and will begin physical work at approximately 16:00h on 10^th December 2020, and it is proposed that they will work late into the evening to complete this exercise. Because of the damage to the alignment to the bridge, the 10^th December 2020 scheduled 01:00hrs opening to facilitate marine traffic has been cancelled.”

It is anticipated that at 13:00h marine crossing will be available. “The public is being advised that while everything is being done to restore normalcy, we encourage only essential travel and we kindly ask businesses and commercial users to delay at least by 24hrs the movement of goods and supplies since during the period of repairs we will only be able to accommodate vehicles up to 12tons,” the DHB said.

Additionally, the DHB said that the non-payment of the toll which was instituted on December 9, 2020 was only a temporary measure to expedite the flow and reduce the backup of vehicular traffic.