Costa Rica: New Bridge En Route to Airport

The Ministry of Public Works (MOPT in Spanish) has announced the construction of a new four lane bridge alongside the old bridge, which has structural problems, on one of the most important routes in the country.

Friday, August 12, 2011

The busy route between San José - Alajuela, fell into chaos several times due to ineffective repairs to the bridge that connects the road to the General Cañas Highway. The new construction will have four-lanes, and will be built by the MOPT alongside the old bridge.

In turn, the old bridge will be subjected to further repairs because fixes made in recent months have failed to address the problem. The bridge, which has been in existence for 50 years, must be rebuilt almost entirely.

Commenting on the costs of the failed repairs, an article in prensalibre.cr notes: "the MOPT has not paid anything, since studies by both the National Laboratory for Materials and Structural Models (LANAMME) and the Association of Architects and Engineers revealed that the concrete [used in the last lot of repairs] did nothing, and the rods underneath are not providing the expected support.

"The bridge is not in danger, but that does not mean that it does not have to be repaired and a solution found for this problem which we have been dealing with since 2009," said the Executive Director of the National Roads Authority (Conavi), Carlos Acosta.

In 45 days maximum, the Da Costa Soares company will have to deliver a solution to start the definitive repair of “la platina” bridge.

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