A total of 1,600 cubic metres of concrete seal has been completed on the final bridge tower (Pier 35) of the New Demerara River Bridge, which is now 90.7 per cent completed.
With this milestone, all 62 piers forming the bridge’s superstructure are now finished.
The announcement was made by Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, on Saturday night during an assessment of ongoing works on the bridge.
He was accompanied by the Minister within the Ministry, Deodat Indar, staff from the Ministry, and representatives from China Railway Construction Corporation Limited and Politecnica Ingegneria.
Minister Edghill stated that Saturday marks another significant milestone in the construction of the New Demerara River Bridge, highlighting that the installation of the girders and the drilling of the first draft are among other major achievements.
“The next milestone event after the pouring [of concrete] and the completion of these towers is when we will complete the 17 cable-stayed sections which would be 570 metres across the channel,” Minister Edghill explained.
He added: “By June 15, we would have completed the installation of all the girders on the Eastern side. All of the girders on the western side are already [installed]. This means that the bridge would be completely assembled and it is just a matter of pouring the concrete, putting in the asphaltic surface, the rails and putting on the light.”
Minister Edghill assured that the high-span, four-lane bridge remains on track for completion on 31 August 2025, and emphasised that the monumental project is progressing within the contract sum.
With more than 1,300 people working around the clock, he noted that construction is advancing rapidly due to the increased deployment of staff and resources.
Minister Indar highlighted that the bridge will enhance connectivity for thousands of commuters, reduce travel time, and stimulate socio-economic development.
“This bridge will not only connect two regions, but also show the rest of the world that we can build massive structures right here in our country,” Minister Indar said. (DPI
