Pedestrian bridge over the Guaso River, the history of never finishing?

2023-10-24 22:34:01

Photo: Venceremos Newspaper

Text: Editorial Cuba Noticias 360

Five months ago, construction began in the capital of Guantánamo, at the eastern end of Cuba, of a pedestrian bridge over the Guaso River that will connect the central area of ​​the city with the so-called Sports City in San Justo. The 79-meter-long work meets an old demand of Guantanamo residents, who year after year, decade after decade, have seen that dream postponed.

The viaduct takes advantage of two existing arteries to create a staircase-like road that will go down to the Guaso, where several 2.40 meter wide prefabricated cement slabs will be deployed, located about 50 centimeters from the river and that will connect with the other bank. , where another staircase will go, according to statements to the local press by architect Zulma Ojeda Suárez, one of the main promoters of the initiative.

To avoid accidents, the project plans to include a temporary railing that can be dismantled in case of weather contingencies, so as not to create an unnecessary barrier in the torrent. On paper, everything is perfect.

Then, in May, what engineer Eider Gamboa, director of the contingent in charge of the work, called “the most critical” began in practice: the excavation of 40 holes 1.20 wide by one meter deep in the resistant stratum. of the river, the casting of 16 foundations with their prefabricated beams and the access staircase.

Finally, when it seemed that the work was going from strength to strength and full sail, the current energy “contingency” arrived and forced it to stop. The last concrete, as confirmed by the engineer, was cast on September 28 and since that day the architectural brigade has been out of the river.

The lack of materials, especially aggregates, and the inability to obtain them in the local industry have forced us to look for alternatives with neighboring provinces, although this solution is far from being ideal.

“We need 50 cubic meters of sand, and we only have 20 that we bought in Santiago de Cuba, which is of lower quality than that produced in Guantanamo, and requires a greater amount of fuel to transport it,” engineer Eider Gamboa confessed to the newspaper. We will win.

Although cement is not a big problem because, according to experts, the work requires 35 tons of mortar that they have obtained in Mariel and Cienfuegos, it does imply an enormous expense of fuel to move it from one end of the island to the other. ; an expense that, moreover, was not in the plans.

The worst thing is that no official or manager dares to say with certainty when the works will resume to complete what is missing, which is not little: casting the foundations that were left pending, placing the rest of the beams and the prefabricated slabs. , all “welded” so that it works as a single element and can withstand the energy of the water, and find a solution for access for the disabled, so that it truly works as a communication route, not as a great architectural barrier.

The pedestrian crossing will make movement from one side of the city to the other more expeditious and will save time, in addition to contributing to saving resources, especially in a context of rising transportation prices due to lack of fuel. However, Guantanamo residents cannot yet attest to these advantages, as they see how the bridge they have claimed for decades falls into disrepair once again. stand by.