President Irfaan Ali has announced that travelers will no longer have to pay to use the Demerara River Bridge, when the new four-lane, high-span bridge is completed and open.

Commuters will also enjoy “toll free” travel across the new Berbice River Bridge and the new Wismar-McKenzie Bridge in Linden whenever those bridges are completed.

The President made the announcement at the opening of the new Schoonard to Crane Highway last evening.

“On the completion of the new Demerara River Bridge, the crossing at the Bridge will be free of cost. For those who are arguing about Mathematics, you don’t need any formula here—I repeat that the toll for crossing will be free of cost,” the President said to loud applause.

He explained that the “free crossing’ move is to reduce the burden on citizens and the private sector especially farmers, and to improve competitiveness.

As it relates to Berbice, Mr. Ali said the government is currently negotiating for a possible acquisition of the current Berbice River Bridge, and once that take over occurs, that crossing will also be free. 

“We are bridging the hearts and minds of every Guyanese, we are bridging community and we are doing it free of cost because we are doing it out of love. No mathematical formula,” the President noted. 

The new US$260m Demerara Bridge is schedule for completion in the first quarter of next year. Work has not started as yet on the new Wismar-McKenzie Bridge. With regards to a new Berbice River Bridge, it was just one week ago that the President made known his intentions to have a new bridge across the Berbice River.

The Opposition, Alliance For Change, has noted that while it is not against development, the Government ought to come clean on studies conducted and the plans for a new Berbice River Bridge. The current bridge across the Berbice River was constructed 16 years ago.

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