Edgehill says hole at New Hope Canal Bridge not a structural defect

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill on Monday dismissed social media claims questioning the safety of the New Hope Canal Bridge, saying a hole visible on the bridge approach is not linked to any structural defect and does not compromise the bridge’s integrity.

Edghill made the statement following a site visit to the bridge on the East Coast of Demerara Railway Embankment, where he was accompanied by engineers, the contractor and the project consultant. He said construction works are still ongoing and the bridge has not yet been officially opened to the public.

According to the minister, remaining works include the application of a final wearing layer of asphaltic concrete, installation of expansion joints on both sides of the bridge, as well as streetlights and road markings.

He explained that the contractor, China Railway First Group Company Limited, carried out temporary works by placing asphalt at the bridge approaches where expansion joints will be installed. The temporary measure was put in place until the joints, which were sourced overseas and are already in the country, can be installed in the coming days.

Edghill said the visible hole developed at the precise location designated for the expansion joints and is not associated with any structural weakness. He added that the current asphalt layer is the base layer and that a final layer must be applied before the expansion joints can be properly installed.

Expansion joints allow for thermal movement between the bridge deck and abutments, preventing damage caused by temperature-related expansion and contraction, the minister said.

The Ministry of Public Works said it remains committed to closely monitoring the project and ensuring that the bridge meets required safety standards before it is opened to vehicular traffic.