Repair and maintenance work on the Lomas del Norte overpassin zone 17 of Guatemala City, finally began; However, there is still no defined time for the completion of the work.
The General Directorate of Roads reported that the tasks include the introduction of anchors, waterproofing of walls, replacement of the façade — wall covering — and improvements to the storm subdrainage system, in a structure that has visible damage such as cracks up to two inches wide.
The start of this work occurs after several months in which It was not clear about the type of intervention that would be carried out, despite the technical warnings.
In September 2025, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) urged the repair of the viaduct after a third study which showed progressive deterioration and declared the structure again at high risk. At that time, it also recommended that the Municipality of Guatemala enable alternative routes.
The report, based on a evaluation of June 7, 2025, detailed problems such as detachment of the coating on the side wall, water infiltration, erosion, differential settlement and cracks in walls, railings and pavement, with a worsening compared to the 2024 inspection.
It was even noted that, despite having been covered with a new asphalt layer, the structure once again showed cracks, which showed that the underlying problem had not been resolved.
Among the findings, damage to the exit lane beam, fractures in sidewalks and deterioration in the asphalt layer were also noted, in addition to leveling work due to settlements under the viaduct. Conred stressed that, although one lane had been closed, the passage of heavy transport was not restricted.
Jobs will depend on the weather
Now, with the start of the work, the Highways Directorate indicated that the execution times are not yet defined, since they will depend on the evaluations carried out during the intervention.
The authorities explain that rainwater discharges from nearby neighborhoods converge in the area, which affects the deterioration of the structure and the pace of the work, in addition to the weather conditions that allow the work to progress.
Preventive signage, transfer of machinery and closure of a lane have already been implemented in the area, which impacts mobility on the route to the Atlantic.
The Municipal Traffic Police (PMT) reported that The auxiliary lane is used to the maximum and a reversible lane was enabled to mitigate traffic, prioritizing the passage from zone 18 to the Belize bridge.
The authorities recommend that drivers take precautions and consider alternative routes, in the event of possible complications due to the reduction of lanes and the development of work.
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