Longbird Bridge is being built up, says Finance Minister Grant Gibbons.

And Government is hoping the request for a new flyover-style bridge will not be a bridge too far for US lawmakers.

Dr. Gibbons said: "It will take $10 million to replace the bridge and that is part of our request to the US Government and the overall request we have been putting to the Senate and Congress.'' He was speaking after a fresh row broke out over the reliability of Longbird Bridge and the Swing Bridge in St. George's following traffic chaos caused by mechanical failures.

Government is responsible for the Swing Bridge -- but Longbird Bridge is maintained by the US under the terms of the original US bases deal.

Dr. Gibbons said of Longbird Bridge: "Government has insisted for some time that it's not just a question of maintenance, it's the structural condition.'' Dr. Gibbons added that the Swing Bridge was a different case -- and said the bridge was maintained by Bermuda and in "good structural condition''.

GOVERNMENT GVT