Work on Guyana/Brazil bridge to commence next week

Kaieteur News, 30 March 2007


Work to complete construction on the Takatu Bridge , which will link
Guyana and Brazil in the Rupununi, will commence in earnest on April 1.

Already Brazilian engineers from the firm Arte Leste of Curitiba from
the State of Parana, north Brazil , are engaged in preparatory work,
mostly on the Brazil side of the border.

The company is a sub-contractor for the project which is being
supervised by the 6th Engineers Battalion of the Brazilian Army, who
will themselves carry out the approaches to the bridge.

According to Ms. Conceieao Paixao, Public Relations Officer of the
company, the bridge is expected to take 12 to 16 months to complete and
will engage the services of about 45 employees.

Kaieteur News understands that the Takatu Bridge will be 230 metres
long and 14 to 15 metres wide.

Already, electrical wires have been run across the Takatu River to
facilitate day and night work at the site.

According to Paixao, although the company has constructed several
bridges in Brazil , including two in Maranhao, this is the first bridge
building project that links two countries which the firm has
undertaken.

The official said that they are anxious for the structure to meet the
satisfaction of both Guyana and Brazil .

Paixao said that should any queries be needed for assistance, she could
be contacted at the Mayor's office in Bom Fin.

While the bridge will facilitate easy crossing of vehicles and cargo to
and from Brazil , there is need to have a proper roadway linking Lethem
to Linden .

Last week, officials from the Ministry of Transport in Brazil and the
Inter-American Development Bank met to explore the possibility of
improving the road.