The Minister of Public Works  Juan Edghill yesterday rebuffed concerns about the structural integrity of the ongoing work at the New Hope Canal Bridge.

A recent visit to the bridge on the East Coast of Demerara Railway Embankment by Edghill, accompanied by a technical team consisting of the project engineer, contractor and consultant, revealed works are still to be done to the bridge which is not officially open to the public.

A release from the Ministry of Public Works said that the outstanding works include the installation of a final layer of asphaltic concrete, expansion joints on both sides of the bridge, the installation of streetlights and road markings.

As it relates to the holes on the approach points of the bridge, the release said that the China Railway FirstGroup Company Limited performed temporary works by placing asphalt in the area where the expansion joints will be placed. This is scheduled to be completed in a matter of days.

The expansion joints were sourced from overseas and are in Guyana and will be installed after the final layer of asphaltic concrete is placed, the release said.

The hole that developed is not related to any structural defect and will not compromise the integrity of the bridge as this is the location where the expansion joints will be installed after the final layer of asphaltic concrete is placed, the release said.

Presently, the layer of visible asphaltic concrete is the base layer and another wearing layer of asphaltic concrete is to be applied. Only then can the expansion joints be properly installed, the release stated.

The purpose of an expansion joint is to control the gap between the bridge abutments and the bridge deck, the ministry said. This ensures that thermal movements of the bridge deck do not cause any contact with the abutments.