Lindeners rejoice in the signing of a US$35 million contract for the construction of a new four-lane Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge.
The current bridge, which was constructed over 50 years ago, will be replaced by a new 220-meter-long precast concrete structure.
Many users of the old Mackenzie-Wismar bridge shared their appreciation for the new infrastructure, as it will serve to reduce their daily commute tremendously. Many lament the effects of the one lane, as they would have to wait sometimes half an hour for one lane of traffic to flow before their lane can continue along.
Some believe the increase in the number of vehicles in Linden has increased the bottleneck situation at the bridge, as it would have long lines of vehicles on either side, sometimes reaching till to Half Mile Road on the Wismar side. At the event marking the signing of the bridge contract, the President explained that the number of vehicles traversing the bridge has increased in the last few years, from 768, 000 in 2020, to over 1.5 million.
Vanessa Braitwaite Moore, from Info 10 Hub, shared that the construction of the new bridge brings numerous employment opportunities for the youth of Linden. She believes this venture “will create job opportunities for them, so they will no longer have to leave Linden seeking job opportunities in the skill-based area”.
In sharing his thoughts on the recent development, Member of Parliament for the APNU+AFC Jermaine Figuera stated “We in Region 10 most definitely welcome development…we are not anti-development”.
He shared that the bridge would reduce the long wait some persons are forced to endure when trapped on one side of the bridge, as “there has been an increase in motor vehicles owned by Lindeners”. As such, Figueira stated there is a need for such a bridge, and it is in accordance with developments being made to create opportunities for regional trade.
According to President Ali, the bridge “will create immense opportunity in positioning Region 10 as the engineering and mechanical hub and transport and logistics hub, not only for mining but also for the trade that exists between Brazil and Guyana and CARICOM”
The signing of the contract between the Government of Guyana and the China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Co. Ltd, was witnessed by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edgill and Minister within the Ministry, Deodat Indar, and Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues.
Additionally, Members of Parliament for the APNU+AFC Jermaine Figuera Devin Sears, and other regional representatives were in attendance.