Virilla With Serious Problems, But Safe
Conavi Says
The problems of the westbound lands bridge
over the river Virilla is not a simple
problem of just replacing a "platina" (steel
plate), or the inability of the
transportation department to do so. No, it
is a question of lack of preventive
maintenance and repairs since the bridge
went into service in 1965.
One person to admit the lack of attention to
the bridge and the reason it is the cause of
frustration for both Transport officials and
drivers, is the ministra de Transportes,
Karla González.
González explained that bridges need
attention at least once every 15 years and
that has not been the case of the Virilla,
which now requires a "complete overhaul" and
not just cosmetic surgery.
Ministra González, in a press conference
Wednesday, said that the work to replace the
"losa"with metal instead of the actual
concrete and that the bridge will be eight
lanes from the current four, which has been
a bottleneck problem on the autopista
General Cañas which is six lanes.
According to Alejandro Molina, director of
the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (Conavi),
the damage to the bridge is way beyond the
simple problem of replacing the platina or
expansion joints.
Molina explained that on closer inspection
engineers found a fatigue point in the
concrete slab, much greater than had been
anticipated, which in the words of the
Conavi official "requires a major
intervention".
Molina said that the bridge surface has
multiple fracture points and although the
repairs are urgent, the bridge is safe.
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More fotos of
the Virilla bridge platina problem can be
found in our
Photo Journal section. |
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