With final tower cemented, new Demerara River Bridge over 90% complete

Construction of the new Demerara River Bridge has passed a major milestone, with 90.7 per cent of the project now completed.

The final concrete tower—Tower P-35—was poured on Saturday night, marking the end of a critical structural phase and bringing the ambitious US$262 million development significantly closer to its scheduled completion date of August 31, 2025.

Public Works Ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar, accompanied by engineers, officials, and representatives from the project contractor—China Railway Construction (International) Limited—were present on site to witness the final concrete pour on the eastern side of the river.

Each of the 35 reinforced concrete towers required approximately 1,600 cubic metres of concrete. Tower P-35’s completion sets the stage for the next major phase of the project: finalising the cable-stayed sections. Of the 17 planned spans stretching 570 metres across the river channel, 11 are already completed. The remaining six are expected to be cast in the coming weeks.

According to Minister Edghill, all girders for the western section have been installed, while the eastern section will be fully in place by mid-June. “By June 15, all the girders on the eastern side will be in. With that, the structural assembly of the bridge will be complete. What follows is the pouring of the deck, asphalt works, installation of lights, rails—what engineers call the furnishings and finishing,” he explained.

Over 1,300 workers, including more than 100 Guyanese nationals, are currently involved in the 24-hour operations, contributing to the rapid progress. Minister Edghill noted that all essential materials have already arrived in Guyana, easing concerns about potential delays due to global shipping or supply chain issues.

“This is a transformational project, and while we’re not at the finish line, this milestone brings us significantly closer,” Edghill stated, reaffirming the government’s confidence that the bridge will be delivered on time and within budget.

Minister Indar echoed this sentiment, adding that despite earlier logistical setbacks, the work remains on schedule.

Independent oversight is being provided by Politecnica, an international consultancy firm, whose representatives confirmed that all work completed thus far meets global engineering and safety standards.

The new high-span, four-lane, toll-free bridge will span 2.8 kilometres and link Regions Three and Four, replacing the ageing Demerara Harbour Bridge. Once completed, it is expected to drastically cut travel times and reduce congestion, especially with complementary road upgrades underway along the East Bank of Demerara and the West Coast Demerara.

Designed for a lifespan of 100 years, the bridge will support vehicles of all sizes and accommodate speeds of up to 80 km/h. As a symbol of national pride, the design will also incorporate Guyana’s Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH), the country’s second-highest national award.