Temporary bridge being constructed to link South and Central Rupununi following bridge collapse on Saturday

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson told reporters on Monday that his Ministry was trying to ascertain who are the owners of the vehicles to recoup some of the cost for repairs.  

Temporary bridge being constructed to link South and Central Rupununi following bridge collapse on Saturday

A temporary Bridge to reconnect the South Rupununi to Central Rupununi is to be constructed as the construction of a new crossing gets underway.

Residents on both sides have not been able to cross over since Saturday when the old Yamatiwau bridge gave way.

A lowbed which was at the time transporting an excavator had attempted to cross without offloading when the collapse occurred.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson told reporters on Monday that his Ministry was trying to ascertain who are the owners of the vehicles to recoup some of the cost for repairs.

The Ministry has dispatched a team to the area to assess the situation.

“They haven’t responded with their assessment yet or what we can do… We will be building a temporary bridge so that the Communities in South Rupununi can be accessed and they can maintain food stock.”

Patterson said once the temporary crossing is in place, the Ministry will be able to determine how the new bridge will be built.

He said the issue here is with road users, reminding that the driver failed to offload the heavy excavator before crossing.

“I have already contacted the GGMC for them to assist me in trying to find whoa re the owners of the truck and the excavator and if it’s a legal mining operation. I can say for sure it is not a Ministry of Public Infrastructure project.”

Patterson is convinced that negligence is responsible for the collapse and said once identified they will have to help with the cost of repairs.

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