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Friday, January 29th, 2016  |  USD: Buy 531.29 / Sell 543.92
20 years

Route between San Ramon and La Fortuna will be closed at least a month after Bailey bridge collapses

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(MOPT for ICR News)

(MOPT for ICR News)

November 12th, 2015 (ICR News) Route 702 between San Ramon and La Fortuna de San Carlos, home of the Arenal Volcano, will be completely closed for at least one month after a Bailey bridge collapsed Thursday morning, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT).

 

The incident occurred as two dump trucks attempted to cross the bridge at the same time, though authorities have not yet determined if the weight of the vehicles were responsible for the bridge’s collapse, or if there was another cause.

 

The bridge, often referred to by those in the area as the Cataratas bridge, is located some 30 minutes from downtown San Ramon on the way to La Fortuna.

 

“Bailey” bridges are a type of modular, easy-to-assemble bridge commonly used by militaries in other countries as temporary bridges during emergencies or in war zones, though they have commonly been used as long-term structures in Costa Rica over the years.

 

The two drivers were both transported to hospital with injuries but in stable condition.

 

(MOPT for ICR News)

(MOPT for ICR News)

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  • Banana Republican

    Load limit? We don’t need no stinkin’ load limit.

    • Roberto

      Brains? Common sense? We don’t need no stinkin brains.

    • zzzzz

      they are actually very vigilant about weighing trucks here so if you don’t know, you should meter your words

      • duke ster

        I have been through these weigh stations–all you do is pay them off. That is what they are looking for. That is why they are “vigilant” about weighing vehicles. Are you trying to make it like they are vigilant about weighing vehicles because of some sense of duty? C’mon man this is Costa Rica. You aren’t really trying to make anyone believe that this weighing agency is the one and only agency in this God forsaken country that actually does it’s job vigilantly because of some sense of right or wrong!!! Incredible!! They stop EVERY truck on the road for one reason and one reason ONLY!!! They want cash in their pockets!!! I am the only Gringo who drives commercial trucks in Costa Rica– I know about this shit!

        • zzzzz

          hmm, i wouldn’t want to contradict your experience but i see weigh station activity every day and i know one officer who works at this station and i guess it would be possible but it doesn’t look like a shakedown shack to me and i would say that if they extorted everyone, they would get into trouble.
          I’m sure there could be some occasional bribing going on but in my view, it isn’t at all the basis of how things work at the weigh stations.
          If it’s the case, tell me i’m wrong and that you have to bribe them every time you go to a weigh station

          • duke ster

            You only have to bribe them Sir, when you are heavier than what the law allows and that is sometimes the only way to make a load pay… if you cram all you can onto it. I’m sure your friend is an honest Costa Rican. However if you can see a bill passed of in a hand shake, your eyes are better than mine. I have to shake hands with the transito alot also.

          • zzzzz

            lol, maybe my eyes ain’t all that good either.
            so too friendly and hand shakey = wink, wink, nudge nudge.
            ..sometimes the only way to make a load pay..
            But that would imply you can count on that hand shake every time.
            I guess it’s not the weigh stations of my innocent childhood imagination then, sigh…
            Awwwwright,

    • duke ster

      Good one !

  • Roberto

    According TVN news channel in the Northern Zone, this structure had already been used before caused by the 2009 earthquake in the Cinchona emergencies.
    Conavi did not admit nor deny ….that it was the same bridge used in 2009.
    David Melendez, director of the Emergency Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) said it is usual for such structures to be reused hopefully, following an inspection to determine its quality.

    • http://insidecostarica.com/ Timothy Williams

      Actually the bridge had been installed as a *result* of the 2009 earthquake. It has been there for nearly 7 years.

      • duke ster

        Yeah Timothy, it will be here another 100 years if they can possibly get away with repairing it. Read my post to the woman above. I drive these roads commercially, I see alot of what is going on. Thank you for your insightful post-7 years for a temporary bridge is nothing. Take a good look at some of these bridges out in the hinterlands. They are made of wood and originally constructed in the days of horse and wagons. Then repaired and shored up again and again and again and again. When you cross a bridge here –PRAY!!. I actually was coming back from Panama late at night and ( thank God) was just to tired to continue , since I drove all the way from Colombia border. I stopped at a motel to sleep. In the morning I set out and soon came to a bridge which–guess what? Wasn’t THERE!!!!. They were working on it and had moved it 50 meters to the west. If I had driven further on that road late at night I would have driven straight off into the casm–into the river way down below. The road simply stopped. No sign–nothing–just a road which had been moved!!!The bridge was moved !!! Thank God every time you drive in this scary country because it very well could be your last time driving anywhere. Many times I have driven on mountain roads and turned a curve to find that the road was washed out. No road-sorry–BYE BYE–if you aren’t paying attention.

  • Tatty Trafton

    I was the next in line to cross the bridge. It should have been replaced years ago. It carries a huge amount of traffic, especially tour buses, which there were 2 fully loaded waiting to cross!

    • duke ster

      Tatty you should thank Good you aren’t a tailgater. And as for the replacement of the bridge which should have been replaced years ago–are you forgetful of what country you are in? Replace? I’ll bet they try to repair this one. I have personally seen Costa Rica repair a bridge that collapsed when school a school bus drove over it and several people died. It was made of wood and was probably 100 years old. It had been repaired several times before. I saw this with my own eyes. They shore them up by putting lumber under them again and again. They put any money that comes in-into their pockets–they don’t use any money they don’t have to because they are too busy stealing it.If I were you I would take this as a sign that you should leave CR-I mean you made it through this near death experience by the grace of God–don’t press it honey.

      • Tatty Trafton

        Nah Duke I am here to stay. I love this country and it’s peoples. No place else I would rather be

        • zzzzz

          :-)

  • duke ster

    What happened to the poor guy who was on the motorcycle that is on the road behind the second truck? I’ll bet he got launched into the drink.

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