This week the Barra Bridge, which had been stipulated that it would be inaugurated in the middle of this month; the mayor of Maldonado, Enrique Antíahighlighted the great investment of the people of the department that demanded more than 7 million dollars.
“It was a brave fight,” Antía stated in the opening of the work which currently has 16 pillars 24 meters below the bed of the stream. This work allowed the bridge to be strengthened and also changed the speed to 45 kilometers per hour.
In that sense, the mayor highlighted that the work was a challenge that could be overcome with height and without having the experience in the recovery of a work of these characteristics. The total investment required 7 million dollars, something that, according to Antía, required an effort from the people of Maldonado.
“The bridge was saved”
At the beginning of a new summer season, Antía highlighted that thanks to the actions of the Municipality “the bridge was saved”; and he said he was happy for having been able to rescue a emblematic work for the department.
When the works are completed, in mid-December, the structure will have a firm base on the rocks of the stream bed, with concrete pillars which will give a lifetime guarantee, given that they are not positioned on previously eroded ground.
The cost of last year’s “crutches”—preliminary repair work that consisted of wooden pillars to prop up the collapsing structure—was almost 3 million dollars; while the definitive works that were carried out throughout 2023 will cost, in total, about 4 million dollars.
The mayor also stressed that ecological damage was avoided of dimensions – one of the possible scenarios in case the bridge had fallen -, while at the same time managing to maintain the image of the two unique undulating bridges.
The bridge over Paso del Guerrero will be complementary
On the other hand, Antía was emphatic in pointing out that through Bridge 2, as soon as it is enabled, no more heavy load will pass, a measure accompanied by strict controls with cameras and sanctions in the form of fines for those who do not comply with the regulations. In that sense, he stated that “we are going to be inflexible with anyone who does not take care of Maldonado’s assets.”
Given this, the Municipality also launched during the year the initiative to build a bridge over Warrior Passintended for slow traffic. According to the communal chief, the executive project is ready, as is the financing, so it is expected that the new structure will be in operation during the 2024.
Source: Ambito
