
The aging Demerara Harbour Bridge, a critical link for decades between the East and West Banks of Demerara, may soon find new life elsewhere. President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced Monday that engineers are currently examining the possibility of relocating the bridge downriver to connect Timehri, on the East Bank, to Sandhills on the opposite side.
The President made the disclosure during the official commissioning of the new Ogle to Eccles Highway, another component of the government’s broader infrastructure push. “Right now, we have the engineers examining the possibility of moving the old Demerara Harbour Bridge downriver to connect Timehri to the Sandhills Road,” Ali said. If the idea proves feasible, it could open up another access point to Guyana’s interior regions—long considered vital to economic development, security, and national cohesion.
This is not the first time the Demerara Harbour Bridge has been at the center of national transformation. Opened in 1978, the floating bridge was a bold engineering solution in its time, linking communities and facilitating commerce. But over the years, the structure has struggled to keep pace with growing traffic volumes and the weight of modern vehicles.
To address these issues, the government is pushing forward with construction of a new high-span, four-lane Demerara River crossing. That bridge—slated for completion by August 31, 2025—is expected to significantly ease congestion and reduce travel times between the East Bank and West Bank.
Even as that major project progresses, the administration is weighing how best to repurpose the existing bridge. President Ali’s comments signal that the structure may not be retired just yet. Instead, it could play a new role in supporting regional connectivity, particularly to and from Guyana’s hinterland.
No final decision has been made, but the President’s remarks suggest that plans are moving beyond the drawing board and into active technical evaluation. For many Guyanese who have crossed the Demerara Harbour Bridge countless times, the thought of it serving new communities rather than being scrapped adds a layer of sentiment to an otherwise practical proposal.