Harbour Bridge a testimony of Guyanese engineers's ingenuity
- Minister Xavier
By Chamanlall Naipaul
Guyana Chronicle
September 28, 2003
THE continued existence of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) well beyond its original 10-year life span is a "testimony of the hard work, skill and ingenuity of Guyanese engineers".
This view was expressed by Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Anthony Xavier yesterday at a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the 6, 074 feet floating steel structure.
Xavier expressed pleasure that fabrication and repairs to the bridge are being executed by local engineering companies, and pointed out that this is good for both the local engineers and the national economy.
But he expressed grave disappointment that most of the members of the DHB Board were absent from the ceremony.
Emphasising the importance of bridges as linkages, the minister acknowledged the DHB as a vital link to Regions Two, Three and Four, and exhorted both the management and users of the bridge to care it so as to ensure the longest possible life span. He made an appeal especially to drivers of heavy-duty vehicles to observe the speed limit and to drive with the greatest care.
Xavier, however, observed that the functioning of the DHB was not all "smooth running," and recalled the tremendous retractor span problems and other setbacks it faced during the 1980s and early 1990s.
But he recalled that under a US$10M grant by the European Union, the DHB was rehabilitated between 1995 and 1999, and those problems were solved.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds, who also attended the ceremony, observed that the construction of bridges provides an opportunity for the development of local technological and engineering skills. He pointed out that under the present project of rehabilitation and widening of over 65 bridges in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) has seen the introduction of pre-stressed concrete here which is being used at the Onverwagt Bridge in West Berbice.
He noted too, that recently, two pontoons for the DHB were built at Linden by Guyanese engineers.
Referring to the bridging of the Berbice River, the Prime Minister alluded to the discomfort and hardships being experienced by commuters there, and reiterated the Government's commitment to bridge the river, but explained that getting the finance for the project is delaying the construction of the bridge.
Representative of the European Union (EU), Mr. Ismo Ilvila, noted that the project for the rehabilitation of the DHB was a huge success both from a technical and economic standpoint.
He recalled that "new life" was given to the bridge on the completion of the rehabilitation project, which was geared at preventing the structure from collapsing.
He further stressed the importance of a sustainable transport in the developmental thrust in all countries, acknowledging the crucial role of the DHB in the development of the local economy.
Former Project Manager and one of the key persons involved in the conceptualisation of the bridge, Mr. Joe Holder, stressed the economical advantage of floating bridges, pointing out that several other similar structures have been built in other countries in recognition of the advantages of the floating bridge principle.
Mr. Holder recalled that the bridge was conceptualized in 1974, when the then Ministry of Works and Hydraulics imported a 120-foot temporary bridge from Thomas Storey Engineers of London to put across canals during repairs to sea defence.
The Managing Director and an engineer from the London-based company travelled to Guyana to conduct a two-week training course for local engineers on the technology of the bridge. One session of that course dealt with floating bridges, and at the end of this session, Mr. Holder asked whether the floating bridge principle could be used to bridge the Demerara River. The British engineer could not pronounce on the unique idea because he was not au fait with the River. He, however, indicated that if he was provided with the technical information, he would be in a position to do so. This was done and the engineer declared that it could work, Holder recalled.
However, the question of the retractor span was somewhat "sticky". When everyone had nearly forgotten the idea, an engineer from Thomas Storey returned to decide whether the retractor span technology could work, and concluded it could.
The proposal was put to the Cabinet, who sanctioned it and Thomas Storey arranged for the credit facility of 6.6M pounds sterling (about $32M at that time) to finance the construction and the acquiring of the components, Holder explained.
So the construction began in 1976 following the turning of the sod on May 29, 1976. The bridge was completed in July 1978 and was opened to the public during the same month.
Current acting Project Manager of the bridge said that over the past year, 104 pontoons for the bridge were overhauled with little or no disruption, and attributed this to the skill and dedication of the engineering staff.
"In fact, it may have gone unnoticed," he offered.
As part of the 25th anniversary commemoration, a number of employees of DHB were presented with awards for their long and dedicated service.
It is estimated that more than 30,000 vehicles use the DHB every day.