The Guyana Government has plans to dole out some $14.2B to construct the new Wismar Bridge as well as support the rehabilitation of the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
Works on the highway are expected to begin this year, with the procurement process having been launched last year. A sum of $10 billion has been allocated for this assignment.
Meanwhile, the sum of $4,2B has also been set aside for the commencement of works to construct the Wismar Bridge.
The Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge is the second of two bridges spanning the Demerara River, to be built by the Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA). The structure which connects Mackenzie and Wismar was constructed to facilitate the transportation of ore from mines located at Wismar and Christianburg to a processing plant in Mackenzie. Construction began in 1965 and was completed in 1967. The bridge is 213 metres (700 feet) in length and 6 metres (21 feet) in width and was constructed from steel and timber.
According to the National Trust of Guyana, the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge initially permitted both railroad cars (for the transportation of bauxite) and vehicular traffic. However, in 2006, railroad cars stopped utilizing the bridge. Today, the bridge is monitored by the Linmine Secretariat and vehicle operators are still allowed to use the structure but are required to pay a toll. Cyclists and pedestrians utilize the bridge freely.
As for the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, it is a two-lane road that stretches through Guyana’s hilly terrain. This road allows travellers to traverse from Soesdyke, Region Four to Amelia’s Ward in Region 10, within the period of 2 hours. The highway was officially declared opened in December 1968, by the late Prime Minster of Guyana, Linden Sampson Burnham. Prior to the road, a trail was used to traverse between the two locations by land and by motor vessels via the Demerara River.
