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Construction of new $22.6 million bridge in Tibas has started |
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 By the A.M. Costa Rica
staff
The construction of the new three-lane bridge over the Virilla River* began on Thursday. The bridge will connect the communities of Tibás in San José* and Santo Domingo in Heredia* at a cost of $22.36 million financed by a loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. The project is managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services and its construction is in charge of three companies: Meco, Puentes Infraestructuras and Grupo Puentes. Alejandro Rossi, director of the United Nations Office for Project Services in Costa Rica, said, "now begins a stage of administration and supervision of this construction to assure to the government that the results are met in time, with quality and in accordance with the expected outcomes." Rossi said this is a complex construction that will be built using the standard techniques for lengthy bridges like this one. Construction starts with the bases and then successive sections of the bridge are built on each side, maintaining the balance of the structure. The new bridge will be built parallel to the current bridge, and there would be almost no interruption in the transit of vehicles. During the first phase of construction, however, night and partial closings will have to be made. These started on Thursday night. Rodolfo Mendez, Minister of Transport, said the issue of suicidal plunges from the current bridge was taken into consideration, so barriers will be placed that reduce the possibility that people will be able to use the structure for these purposes. Minister Mata said the new bridge will release the pressure on the current traffic and will give traffic more fluidity for drivers who must travel on route #32, between Tibás in San José*, and Guapiles in Limón*. "We are looking for alternatives for the Braulio Carrillo Park sector, in order to benefit those who live in Sarapiquí* and Limón*, but we are going step by step," said Minister Mendez. |
 Ministry of Transport courtesy photo The bridge
will cost of $22.36 million financed by a loan
from the Central American Bank for Economic
Integration.
According to the ministry, the characteristics of the bridge are: -Three lanes of 3.60 meters wide each, with sidewalks 1.5 meters wide, separated from the road with concrete barriers. - 285 meters in length. - The parallel road will also be extended by 285 meters at each end of the bridge. - Construction should not interrupt traffic. - Two bases 50 meters high will be built to support the structure and the slopes will be reinforced. The bridge should be finished in 18-months ---------- Have you driven on the current Tibás bridge? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com *Link to reach the place on a map. |
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