Tomado de http://www.stabroeknews/. Del 9 de diciembre de2008
Collapsed Rupununi bridge still to be fixed
Brazil company providing funds
The Rupununi River Bridge near Katoonarib, which collapsed under the weight of an excavator earlier this year, will be repaired as soon as the weather permits, says Region Nine Chairman, Clarindo Lucas.
The Chairman had previously told this newspaper that repairs to the $16M bridge would have commenced during October after the high waters in the region had receded. However, in a recent interview with this newspaper, Lucas said that the water levels were still high following an intense rainy season and stated that work on the bridge will start when the levels dropped.
He said that funding for the project had already been secured, since the Brazilian gold-mining company which owned the excavator has provided the money for the reconstruction of the bridge.
The bridge had only been recently constructed when it collapsed. Lucas told Stabroek News that on May 27, when the bridge collapsed the cement on the bridge was not properly cured and was in no way ready to bear the weight of the 35-tonne excavator.
Bus passengers walking across the Mora Bridge in Annai which is currently under rehabilitation.
According to reports, the driver of the excavator was attempting to cross the bridge and had reached half way across when it caved in, resulting in the excavator falling into the river. The driver fortunately was washed out of the excavator’s cabin by the rushing water and managed to swim to shore. Several days later a bulldozer and another excavator managed to pull the fallen excavator back out of the river and it was repaired. Apart from the middle of the bridge being broken, the beams from the western bank to the middle were also cracked.
Since the mishap the bridge has been closed, Lucas told Stabroek News.
This bridge is only the second one in recent times to be built over the Rupununi River. The other is located in the village of Karaudarnau in the South Rupununi.
Meanwhile, the Moco-Moco Creek Bridge, which links Lethem to St. Ignatius, has been finished following repair works being halted because of insufficient funds being budgeted for the project. On July 31, while works had been halted, Allan David-James called “Bushman” of St. Ignatius Village died while he was crossing the bridge. At the time, the man was pushing his bicycle across the bridge. James was reportedly intoxicated at the time.
Stabroek News was told that shortly after this incident, the bridge was repaired.
The newly rehabilitated Moco-Moco Bridge.
An official attached to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) said that one of the main reasons why the bridge had to be repaired in the first place was due to the heavy vehicles that traverse the bridge. He said that the bridge was never strong enough for these types of vehicles. The official said that villagers had removed a bar which served to prevent large trucks from crossing over the bridge. He, however, said that since the bridge has been repaired a new barrier has been installed, and for now it seems to be working.
This newspaper understands, however, that this bridge is the main structure that links Lethem to the South Rupununi.
In the meantime, the Mora Bridge in Annai is undergoing construction. The bridge facilitates the passage of vehicles to Lethem and is currently a great risk to passengers traversing this route. In recent weeks, passengers using the big vehicles have been forced to disembark the bus and walk over the bridge in an attempt to lighten the load.
However, this newspaper was told that this bridge will be completed before the end of the year. At present, this bridge is a disaster waiting to happen.
Nota del Editor del blog: Al referenciarse a la República Cooperativa de Guyana se deben de tener en cuenta los 159.500 Km2, de territorios ubicados al oeste del río Esequibo conocidos con el nombre de Guayana Esequiba o Zona en Reclamación sujetos al Acuerdo de Ginebra del 17 de febrero de 1966.
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