The
Infamous "Platina" Bridge Still A Source of
Traffic Problems On The General Cañas
The "platina" bridge once again has become a
headache for drivers on the autopista
General Cañas from San José to Alajuela, on
the Virilla bridge.
If you will recall the transport officials
have tried, on several occasions and each
time failed, to repair the gap that spans
the wesbound lanes of the autopista.
To that end, trasnport officials have given
up until next year on repairing the bridge,
even though it is a major source of traffic
congestion during normal hours and worse at
peak traffic times.
Altough the bridge is safe, according to the
Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Tránsportes (MOPT),
the gap on the bridges means many drivers
slow down, some even come to a complete
stop, before crossing, causing a traffic
backlog.
The gap on the bridge has also been the
cause of several accidents on and before the
bridge. Just last week, a bus loaded with
passengers swerved off the road, into the
ditch, avoiding a rear end collision.
The fortune of the passengers and the driver
was the mound of dirt that held the bus
upright, as the bottom slid the ditch and
the side of the bus the dirt wall, causing
only minor injuries.
Skid marks from applied brakes tell the
entire tale of what is happening daily in
front of the bridge.
The section of highway before the bridge is
three lanes and on a down slope, meaning
many drivers do not slow down, until they
have a vehicle who suddenly slows down or
stops in front of them, to cross the gap or
merge into the two lane bridge.
Our recommendation, slow down and use
caution when approaching the bridge.
Crossing the bridge at 60 Km/h, according a
high ranking MOPT officials, means the gap
won't even be felt. Obviously, the (unnamed)
official has yet to cross the bridge!
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See out Photo Journal report of last August on the Virilla bridge situation. |
