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Argentina bridge deterioration sparks urgent repair calls amid flood fears
🇦🇷 Argentina /Energy & Infrastructure

Argentina bridge deterioration sparks urgent repair calls amid flood fears

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Producers in Bragado, Argentina, are urgently demanding repairs for a deteriorating provincial route 46 bridge over the Mercante canal.
  • The bridge, crucial for water drainage and road access to Junín, was slated for reconstruction in 2021 but remains unfinished, raising concerns amid forecasts of increased rainfall.
  • Authorities state the bridge poses no immediate risk and a new bidding process is underway for 2027, while locals fear it will collapse under heavy rain.

Producers in Bragado, Argentina, are sounding the alarm over the critical state of a bridge on provincial route 46, which connects the city to Junín. They warn that the structure's severe deterioration poses a significant risk of collapse, especially with forecasts of increased rainfall due to El Niño.

This claim has been made for over a year through all channels: in the province, at the national level, and here in the local Deliberative Council. They are likely waiting for it to fall.

— Martín de la SernaA self-summoned producer from Bragado, expressing frustration over the lack of action on the bridge repairs.

The bridge, which also serves as a vital point for water drainage, was put out for tender by the Buenos Aires province in January 2021 with a budget of $170 million and a 450-day execution period. However, producers claim the work was never completed, and the structure has since worsened, impacting the asphalt and water channels.

Martín de la Serna, a self-summoned producer from Bragado, expressed frustration, stating, "We have been making this claim for over a year through all channels: in the province, at the national level, and here in the local Deliberative Council. They are likely waiting for it to fall." He emphasized the urgency, asking, "If we don't do the work now while it's dry, when will we do it? When the water comes? Then we will regret it, and it will be too late."

The bridge is falling. When the trucks pass, everything shakes. The tunnels where the water passes are all rotten.

— Martín de la SernaDescribing the current state of the bridge's structure.

In response, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Services stated that the bridge has been evaluated and does not represent a risk. They explained that the initial bidding process was unsuccessful due to a single company offering a price 100% above the official budget, leading to the cancellation of the tender. The Provincial Highway Authority is now initiating a new administrative process, with the work expected to be carried out in 2027. However, locals argue that the current condition of the bridge may already exceed the scope of the original project from five years ago.

If we don't do the work now while it's dry, when will we do it? When the water comes? Then we will regret it, and it will be too late.

— Martín de la SernaUrging for immediate action on the bridge repairs before the rainy season.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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