$890M budgeted for repairs, replacement of 20 pontoons on Harbour Bridge
The Ministry of Public Works has budgeted $890M in this year’s 2021 National Budget to replace 20 pontoons and complete rehabilitation works on the retractor span 9 the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
This was disclosed by Minister within the Ministry, Deodat Indar during his presentation on the Budget on Thursday.
The over 40-year-old floating bridge has been plagued with ever increasing maintenance cost in recent years and until plans for a new bridge across the river comes to fruition, this will continue.
The Ministry of Public Works is allocated a total of $39.6B in the 2021 National Budget.
Other major projects include the Ogle to Eccles four lane bypass road for which $1B was allocated, the Better Hope to Belfield road on the East Coast of Demerara to which $1.1B was budgeted and $367M for the construction and installation of lights, sidewalks and parking lots.
With regard to the programme for public and main access roads and the Sheriff-Mandela expansion project, $378 million and $2 billion have been allocated, respectively.
Concerning hinterland roads, the flagship Linden-Mabura Hill road project and the construction of farm-to-market roads, the Ministry intends to spend a further $2 billion, $3.5 billion and $400 million respectively.
There are also plans to rehabilitate the Linden-Soesdyke Highway to tune of $150 million and a $200 million earmarked for work on the new Schoonord to Parika thoroughfare.
Dredging and marine works have also been prioritised with an allocation of $425 million to procure a new pilot launch and suction hopper dredger.
Minister Indar said $215 million has also been budgeted for bridges in Better Hope, Cemetery Road, Big and Little Baiboo, Groenveldt and Leonora.
Moving on to sea defences, $1.3 billion was provided through funding from the Caribbean Development Bank and sea and river defence will benefit from a $3 billion allocation.
Waterfront development is also on the cards for Stabroek and Vreed-en-Hoop. The budget provides $185 million for these projects.
Meanwhile the stellings at Wakenaam, Fort Island, Parika, Supenaam and Leguan are slated for rehabilitation at a cost of $310 million.
Money would also be set aside for navigational aids and reconditioning of ferries at a cost of $645 and $500 million, respectively.
In the aviation sector, $345 million is directed to the rehabilitation of airstrips while $2.5 billion will fund the further upgrade and modernisation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
