Recently, the construction monitoring project for the New Demerara River Bridge in Guyana, South America, led by Professor Wang Lifeng and Associate Professor Xiao Ziwang from the School of Civil Engineering and Transportation at Northeast Forestry University (NEFU), was completed after 18 months of dedicated efforts and perseverance. The team finished the whole process of construction monitoring, marking a significant milestone as the high-profile bridge is about to be completed and opened to traffic.

With a total investment of USD 260 million, the New Demerara River Bridge is the largest and most technically complex transportation infrastructure project ever undertaken in Guyana. Spanning the Demerara River at Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, the main bridge adopts a prestressed concrete cable-stayed structure with a span arrangement of (135+300+135) meters, featuring twin towers and double cable planes. The bridge has a total length of 2,800 meters, carrying four lanes of two-way vehicular traffic and two non-motorized lanes, with a design speed of 80 km/h and a service life of 100 years.

On August 28th, 2025, the New Demerara River Bridge was successfully closed, marking a historic milestone witnessed on site by H.E. President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana. President Ali spoke highly of the Chinese construction team for strictly adhering to international standards and norms throughout the construction process, demonstrating exceptional professionalism and technical expertise that ensured the project’s outstanding quality. “The bridge construction team often worked through the night,” President Ali remarked. “I will never forget those conference calls at two or three o’clock in the morning. The completion of this bridge came at the cost of precious time that the Chinese engineers could have spent with their families. Today’s success is a tribute to all those moments of dedication and perseverance.” He also expressed high appreciation for the team’s commitment to fulfilling their promises and for their efficient advancement of the project.

The completion of the New Demerara River Bridge will have a far-reaching impact on Guyana’s development. As one of the country’s most vital rivers, the Demerara River has long played a central role in local transport and logistics. The opening of the new bridge will significantly enhance connectivity across the river, reduce travel costs for residents, and improve regional transportation efficiency substantially, thus driving economic growth and fostering regional integration.

The successful completion of the project not only highlights the team’s intense research and technical capabilities but also exemplifies NEFU’s active role in advancing infrastructure cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Throughout the project, the team provided valuable opportunities for young faculty members and students to gain practical experience in international engineering practices, helping them strengthen their professional competence and broaden their global perspective. Building on this success, the team will continue to leverage its strengths to cultivate more outstanding talents for the nation and society. At the same time, it will further enhance international academic exchanges and cooperation, showcase the excellence of Chinese technology on the global stage, and continuously enhance NEFU’s academic strength and international influence.