New Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge

The Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge is one of the two existing bridges over the Demerara River in Guyana. It is located at the southern side of Linden, Region 10, and close to the bauxite processing plant.

The Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge was built by the Demerara Bauxite Company during 1966–1967 and equipped with a single-lane railway track. Its primary purpose was to transport bauxite from the West Bank mines to the processing plant on the East Bank of the Demerara River. Mining activities on the West Bank have since declined, and the bridge is now primarily used by approximately 40,000 persons from the Linden community, loggers, miners, and other road users. The Linmine Secretariat, a division of National Industrial & Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), is responsible for operating and maintaining this toll bridge.

The objective of the consultancy service is to assist the Ministry of Public Works in the Feasibility Study, Detailed Design, Work Supervision and Contract Administration for the construction of the new bridge. This includes ensuring compliance with engineering designs, technical specifications, safety standards, environmental protection measures, and social safeguards, as well as post-construction reporting.

The construction of a New McKenzie-Wismar Bridge is of top priority by the Government of Guyana. The Government, thanks to a CDB-UKCIF co-financing, through the Ministry of Public Works (formerly Ministry of Public Infrastructure) and the involvement of Politecnica, completed a Feasibility Study and Detailed Designs for the New Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge in June 2021. In December 2023, a Design-Build Contract was awarded to China Railway Construction Caribbean Co. Limited for the construction for the New McKenzie-Wismar Bridge with funding from the National Budget.

The existing bridge is approximately 225 meters long, with a 25.5-meter center span. It has a single lane, with a total width of about 6.50 meters, of which 4.25 meters are for vehicular traffic. Walkways are present on both sides but are not accessible for persons with disabilities. The section assigned for vehicular traffic is constructed mainly of reinforced concrete with only the area along the center span having wooden planks. The width of the bridge only allows for a single lane for vehicular traffic.

Locally, the bridge connects both sides of Linden (Mackenzie and Wismar districts), providing access to socio-economic activities on both riverbanks, such as the Mackenzie Hospital and fire station. Nationally, it is a vital link in the road network, facilitating access to interior locations and serving as the main route to the Brazilian border. Over 3,600 vehicles cross the bridge daily, causing frequent traffic congestion due to its single-lane capacity.

The New Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge, with 233 m length, provides four lanes for vehicular traffic, two barrier separated pedestrian walkways on both sides, illumination and signage. The bridge design is assumed to have a passage that offers a minimum horizontal clearance of 32 meters, and a vertical clearance of 11.5 meters above mean high water level to facilitate vessel passage. The configuration of the remaining spans should conform to the established design profile.

The new bridge is designed to be connected to the main road network through two road approaches connecting to the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and the Linden-Mabura Road at the East and West riverbanks, respectively. Two new roundabouts are also designed at the junctions of the road approaches and the existing road network.