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COSTA RICA |
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The
First Bridge Is Down. Which Will Be The
Next?
The common feeling in Costa Rica is that
Thursday's tragic accident in Turrubares
that killed five people when a loaded
passenger bus plunged into the river below
as it crossed an old and fatigued bridge is
the first of many such accidents unless
transportation officials do something. And
real fast.
However, there is no easy cure.
The ministra de Obras Públicas y Transportes,
Karla Gonzalez, has come under tremendous
pressure since Thursday, from all walks of
society, who are demanding that the
ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT)
provide safe roads and bridges. Some going
as far as calling for the resignation of
González.
Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, defended
his minister, by saying the accident "all of
Costa Rica mourns" the five, but he will not
replace González.
"I don't share the belief that it is all her
fault", said Arias, adding that his
government, under the guidance of González,
has already repaired some 40 bridges and it
was just plain bad luck that one in really
bad condition was not fixed in time.
The problems with the country's bridges goes
beyond the Arias administration and the
González tenure of transportation minister.
It goes back to decades of lack or no
maintenance by previous administrations and
now coming to a head as some of the bridges,
like the one that went down on Thursday were
built in the earlier part of the last
century.
However, Thursday's tragedy could have been
completely avoided, as the bridge has been
scheduled for a complete overhaul. In fact,
the steel material that was to have been
used in the overhaul has been sitting in a
Tibás MOPT yard for years.
In fact, the plans for the complete
reconstruction of the bridge were begun in
2003, which included access to the new
Turrubares - Orotina raod.
In a letter last November by the director de
ingeniería del Conavi, Johnny Barth, he
tells the MOPT vice-minister, Pedro Castro,
of the completed plans.
Alberto Salom, party whip for the PAC party,
made the contents of the letter public,
adding that Barth explained in the letter
that the only problem was a decision by the
ministra and the lack of financing for the
project. Now the government is faced with a
us$15 million dollar emergency funding to
replace the bridge, which many ask why
couldn't the money be found earlier?
Currently, and according to numbers provided
by the MOPT minister, there are 1.200
bridges in need of immediate attention, some
are in critical condition and could be the
next to make the headlines.
Typical bridge in rural communities across
the country. This is located in Orquetas de
Sarapiquí and used daily by local residents
as it is the only connection between
communities and the main road.
"We have done our best but it has not been
enough and we have to take the
responsibility for 40 years of neglect and
abandonment of our bridges", said González.
The minister admits that the materials for
replacing the 75 metre 1924 built bridge was
bought in 2002 during the Rodriguez
administration, but it has been sitting in a
warehouse since>
"What I am saying is that the material was
bought 7 years ago, but due to bureaucracy,
nothing was ever done", said González.
A preliminary investigation also revealed
that Thursday's tragedy could also been
avoided if the MOPT and the Policía de
Tránsito (traffic police) would be firmer
with enforcing regulations.
An investigation by Telenoticias, local
channel 7 television news team, reported on
Friday that the bus involved in the accident
did not have the required permits. The news
report said that bus had failed to meet the
requirements for a permit, but was in
operation nonetheless.
Releif for the injured and for the families
of the victims will come from the Instituto
Nacional de Seguros (INS), the state
insurer, to will process claims from the
"traffic accident".
As well the bus company and the driver may
face criminal charges, as well as civil
suits from the injured and the families of
the victims.
However, after all said an done, people will
still continue to use bridges like the
Turrubares as, in many cases, are the only
connections
between adjoining communities.
The foto was
taken in July 2009 by a driver of
Avanti Limousines.
The bridge, the only connection between a
tourist resort in Sarapiquí and the main
road to San José. The driver reports the
bridge swaying under the weight of the
Cadillac Fleetwood limo Passengers were let
off before entering the bridge and reboarded
at the other end. |
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