Demerara Harbour Bridge

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Demerara Harbor Bridge Toll both on the East Bank

The Demerara Harbour Bridge is a 6,074 foot long floating toll bridge. It was commissioned on 2 July 1978. The bridge crosses the Demerara River 4 miles south of the Guyanese capital Georgetown, from Peter's Hall, East Bank Demerara to Schoon Ord, West Bank Demerara. There is a pedestrian footwalk. A raised section allows for small vessels to pass under. A retractor span allows for passing of large vessels. Construction of the Demerara Harbour Bridge began on 29 May 1976. Construction assistance was provided by the British Government. Interestingly, toll is collected only in one direction of travel even though the bridge handles one lane of traffic in each direction. Toll slips are collected at the West Bank side after crossing from the East. Traffic going west to east pays no toll.

The bridge is approximately 1.25 miles long and has 61 spans. A high-level span provides a horizontal clearance of 32.0 metres (105 feet) and a vertical clearance of 7.9 metres (26 feet) to permit small craft to pass at all times. In order to permit the passage of large craft, two retractor spans retract fully to leave a horizontal clearance of 77.4 metres (254 feet).

[edit] History

The expanding country needed a way to transport and link its people. Most of the country's population lives within 80 miles of Georgetown and it is important to link these people together. The only thing keeping Georgetown apart from West Bank Demerara was the Demerara River. The government decided to construct a floating bridge to accommodate growing business and trade across Guyana.

Coordinates: 6°46′16.20″N, 58°11′10.90″W

[edit] Management

The Demerara harbour Bridge is managed by the Management and Monitoring Unit, Demerara Harbour Bridge Rehabilitation Project (MMU-DHB-RP), a subsidiary of the Ministry of Public Works(MPW). MMU, however functions independently of the MPW, and maintains a full staff responsible for maintenance, management, construction and operation. MMU also maintains financial independence based on revenue earned from tolls (vehicle and water-bourne vessels). They have a staff of about 60 people.