Venezuela Inspects Caracas-La Guaira Viaducts After Earthquakes, Finds No Structural Faults

Venezuelan authorities have confirmed that the vital viaducts on the Caracas-La Guaira highway show no structural damage following a recent double earthquake. Minister of Transportation Jacqueline Faría announced that a multidisciplinary technical team has been continuously monitoring the structures for 48 hours and will maintain surveillance.

Faría assured the public that safety measures are in place and will be activated immediately if any warning signs appear. The inspection focuses on the support columns and the structures' behavior under traffic load. The assessment began with the Caraballeda bridge and the José María España avenue, and will expand to other bridges and viaducts in the La Guaira state.

In addition to the viaduct inspections, authorities are working to restore lighting in the nearly two-kilometer-long Boquerón I tunnel, which connects Caracas and La Guaira through the Ávila mountain. President of the National Assembly Jorge Rodríguez had previously dismissed social media reports of damage, stating that evaluations are conducted every 12 hours and that viral videos showed only a minor crack in a guardrail.

While the viaducts are deemed safe and operational, officials also plan to reinforce them given the magnitude of the earthquakes. The ongoing monitoring and planned reinforcements aim to ensure the long-term safety and reliability of this critical infrastructure connecting the capital to the port city.