The six-foot wide 48-foot long beams that comprise the bridge platform were manufactured by Pres-T-Con Limited of Trinidad and Tobago.

“This bridge is an example of what can be achieved with everyone’s active cooperation. The Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Social Development, the Police, the contractor, the engineer and the workers have all show professionalism in executing this Project,” according to Mr. Robin Swaisland, Senior Projects Manager at the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD).

The old bridge, popularly referred to as ‘the Ogilvie Bridge,’ is retained as a pedestrian walkway. Several local residents were at the site on Tuesday to watch the crane lift the beams in place, one of whom was Mr. Leonard George.

Mr. George recalled his days as a young apprentice with McIntyre Brothers in the 1950s. The old bridge had previously been located at Balthazar, St. Andrew. When Hurricane Janet hit Grenada in 1955, the bridge collapsed.

“The bridge fell into the river. I assisted in cutting the bridge from the remaining end with a welding torch. Later, Mr. Ogilvie arranged to have the bridge brought here,” Mr. George said, referring to the late Ralph Ogilvie, who owned lands in the area.

The bridge at Mt. Gay is part of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Sites and Services Project, which is being managed by the ARD on behalf of the Government of Grenada. The contractor for the Project is China Jiangsu Construction Group Corporation, and the consultant is Glean’s Construction and Engineering Co. Ltd.

Mr. Swaisland said the works are on schedule with a completion date of mid-March in time to facilitate traffic for Cricket World Cup 2007.

The Project involves a $2.28 million (EC) contract for infrastructural development at Mt. Gay and a $2.23 million (EC) contract at Soubise. The funds are provided from the Inter American Development Bank through a CDB loan to the Government of Grenada.