metro

Overhaul planned for bridge

IVÁN URIBE/LA PRENSA

cracking up:Between a lack of maintenance and vehicles running into it, this bridge on Vía Simón Bolívar has taken quite a beating.978520

The vehicular bridge on Vía Simón Bolívar, located between the Cervecería Nacional and the Universidad de Panamá, is showing serious signs of wear and tear.

The bridge has several cracks in its foundation due to an obvious lack of maintenance.

"When these cracks are not sealed, there is a risk of water leaking into it causing the steel cables inside to deteriorate," warned engineer Virgilio Solís III.

The gratest risk is that the bridge could become unstable or collapse if these cables break, added Solís.

Ministerio de Obras Públicas (MOP) officials said that the agency’s road maintenance fund, which has a budget of $105 million for road rehabilitation, should have enough money to handle the project. The government plans to resurface the bridge, improve drainage and fill in all the cracks.

Those officials, however, said that lack of maintenance, however, is not the only danger to the bridge.

There have been numerous accidents at the site, which have also contributed to the bridge’s problems. They urged motorists to be more cautious.