The destruction of the Mocá bridge, at kilometer 131.5 of the route to the southwest of the country, has generated alarm among authorities and residents, because the damage also threatens to compromise the stability of the twin bridge, which still stands.
According to reports from the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred), the diversion of the river current caused by the debris of the collapsed bridge is undermining the bases of the parallel bridge, which puts the connection to the southwest and border areas at risk.
Édgar Hidalgo, Conred delegate in Río Bravo, Suchitepéquez, warned that the Mocá “no longer has a remedy” and that the protection of the twin bridge must be prioritized to avoid a greater economic impact. “It is a time bomb if this is not addressed,” he said.
Residents of the Brisas del Mocá sector expressed their concern. Francisca Ixquiactap, representative of the Ladies’ Committee of the La Línea Sector, indicated that more than 200 families would be isolated if an overflow occurs. “This is the only means to communicate with other communities,” he stated.
As a provisional solution, the Ministry of Communications announced the installation of a modular Bailey-type bridge, while the collapsed structure is removed. The measure seeks to maintain traffic on one of the most important routes in the country, which connects with the border with Mexico and where thousands of cargo vehicles circulate daily.
The partial closure has complicated the transportation of goods and passengers, affecting the commercial and logistical flow in the southern region. Business chambers warn that the disabling of the passage generates economic losses due to the retention of supplies and products.
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