Jagdeo River Bridge drives commerce with 50,000 daily vehicles

The recently commissioned Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge is carrying more than 50,000 vehicles daily, a development that officials say is easing congestion, improving safety, and accelerating trade and commerce between Regions Three and Four.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar Ramraj, disclosed the figures during a recent presentation, noting that the four-lane bridge has significantly changed traffic movement across the Demerara River since replacing the aging Demerara Harbour Bridge.

“This four-lane bridge replaced the aging Demerara Harbour Bridge and has transformed how people move between Regions Three and Four,” Ramraj said. “Safety has improved, commerce flows without interruption, and since commissioning, average daily traffic volumes have exceeded 50,000 vehicles per day, reflecting both latent demand and improved network efficiency.”

According to the minister, the toll-free bridge has also delivered direct financial relief to commuters. He said regular users are saving in excess of $80,000 annually in tolls that would previously have been paid to cross the old bridge.

“This is money now going back into households, towards groceries, school expenses and daily living,” Ramraj said, adding that infrastructure investment can have tangible effects on household finances.

The bridge forms part of a broader public infrastructure programme that the government says is aimed at supporting economic growth while improving daily mobility. Ramraj described the programme as people-centred, with success measured by improved quality of life rather than the number of projects completed.

Beyond the Demerara River crossing, the minister pointed to several other major road projects already completed or under way. These include the 33.5-kilometre East Bank Demerara Road, now rebuilt as a modern corridor featuring sidewalks, cycle lanes, LED lighting, and upgraded safety measures.

“This is infrastructure that respects all users—pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and businesses—while supporting commercial growth along the corridor,” he said.

In Region Six, upgrades to the Corentyne Highway and the construction of 16 kilometres of bypass roads have reduced travel delays and agricultural spoilage, while strengthening cross-border trade with Suriname. Inland, the 72.43-kilometre Linden–Soesdyke Highway has been reconstructed with improved drainage, lighting, and pedestrian bridges, and reconstruction is continuing on the 121.2-kilometre Linden–Mabura Hill Road to restore reliable access for hinterland communities and productive sectors such as mining, forestry, and tourism.

Looking ahead to 2026, Ramraj said the government is prioritising projects to further reduce congestion and improve safety, including a major upgrade of the Essequibo Coast Public Road from Supenaam to Charity.

“This corridor is essential for linking agricultural zones, fishing communities and commercial centres with regional and national markets,” he said. “Upgrading it to a four-lane dual carriageway is critical to support increased traffic volumes and improve travel efficiency.”

Plans for the corridor include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, bus bays, designated parking areas, and clearer separation between pedestrian and vehicular traffic, along with improved traffic management near schools and markets. Officials expect the upgrade to lower transport costs and improve market access for farmers and riverine communities.

Ramraj also noted that the improved coastal road network will be linked to enhanced river transport, including the new government vessel MV Konawaruk 1899, to create stronger connections between road and river systems. Along with projects such as the Mandela Avenue bypass in Georgetown, these corridors are intended to form a continuous transport spine from Moleson Creek to Lethem and the Pomeroon, facilitating trade with Brazil and Suriname.

The minister said the administration’s focus remains on long-term national development. “We are not building for headlines,” he said. “We are building for generations,” while committing to continued public engagement as the government’s five-year development agenda advances.