Gov’t seeking supervisory services for new bridge over Demerara

Even as government continues negotiations with contractor China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) for the building of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, it yesterday issued a request for proposals for supervisory services for the project.

Through the executing agency, the Ministry of Public Works, the notice was issued with subject Minister Juan Edghill explaining its purpose. “It is for the supervision for the construction… the supervision is for when the contract is signed and to supervise what is taking place,” he said. The Public Works Minister did not give a timeframe for when the contract would be signed but he recently  told this newspaper that the two sides were still in discussions.

“The Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) invites eligible consultancy firms to submit proposals for construction supervision for the construction of the New Demerara River Bridge (Nandy Park to La Grange),” the notice stated.

The notice was issued despite the fact that there are major outstanding matters connected to an environmental permit for the project. There has been controversy over the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency not to require any Environmental Impact Assessment for the new bridge. This matter is still to be settled.

The notice in Stabroek News said that the main objective of the consultancy was for the consultant to assist the MoPW in the design, review, construction supervision and general project management of the construction of the bridge along with contract administration throughout the project implementation process.

In this year’s Budget, some $21.1B has been allocated for the construction of the new, fixed four-lane high span bridge linking Regions 3 and 4.

Edghill had explained that government has been working to ensure the best deal for the new bridge project is secured before they move to sign a contract.

Discussions are centred on financial payment options, final design of the bridge, and delivery of work, among other things. CSCEC was selected as the company to construct the $256.6 million bridge after cabinet’s no objection and an evaluation by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.

The company had tendered the lowest bid during the procurement process. Stabroek News understands that during the evaluation of bids for the project, CSCEC scored highest for its submission of a bridge proposal that it will design, finance, and build. Guyana, it was explained by a source, would have to operate the crossing.

During the procurement process, government had specified that the design should accommodate a dual two-lane (four-lane) carriageway, hybrid cable-stayed centre-span bridge with concrete box/T-beam girder approach bridge structures, and must include bridge collision protection, a navigation span to accommodate Handymax vessel navigation aids, lighting, signage, and all other ancillary works, an access road with a minimum of 50 meters up to abutments, toll-collection buildings and ancillary buildings on the West Bank of the Demerara River. When completed, government wants the new bridge terminating at Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara.

Government had said that it may have to acquire those lands which fall into the path of the new location which terminates at Nandy Park on the East Bank and La Grange on the West Bank, but a decision on that matter has not yet been made.