Virilla
Bridge To Continue As Is For Some Time. MOPT
Minister Says
According to Pedro Castro, the vice-ministro
de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), the
bridge, with gaping hole and all, poses no
threat to the safety of drivers and the
integrity of the bridge.
In addition, Castro said in front of the
television news cameras that if drivers pass
over the problem area at normal speeds - 60
Km/h - they will barely feel the bump in the
road.
"Only when the vehicle slows down can the
10cm (4 inch) gap can be felt", said Castro.
Castro is the new face with respect to the
bridge repair problems of the bridge over
the river Virilla on the autopista General
Cañas, replacing Benajamin Sandino, director
of the CONAVI, speaking to the press.
Castro confirmed that there will not be, for
now, any more repair work on the bridge, nor
any more road closures.
However, drivers over the bridge don't quite
agree with the transport official.
Shouts like "lets fix this for once and for
all", "it is a shame" and many profanities
to the news cameras that have been constant
on the site.
According to the Colegio Federado de
Ingenieros y Arquitectos (CFIA) there is a
solution to the problem.
Austin Shen Ti, an inspector for the CFIA,
explains that installing an flexible joint
underneath the bridge, while placing a metal
plate on the surface and joining the two
parts with a special epoxy would get the job
done.
Shen Ti defends the decision made to use
concrete to close up the gap, which
unfortunately did not work, lasting only
hours after completion of the work.
While the debate goes on, one thing is for
sure, the traffic congestion at the bridge
will continue as drivers continue to slow
down in front of the gap. |
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