In Girón, the state of the bridges over the El Chorro river is evaluated after the collapse of a structure

The municipality of Girón rules out damage to the Antonio Flor and 3 de Noviembre bridges after the collapse of the Arturo Sández street bridge, located over the El Chorro river.

The Arturo Sández bridge fell on February 19 as it could not withstand the current of the river. The fact alarmed the inhabitants of the canton.

The city council decided at that time to also evaluate the state of two more bridges located on the tributary that are over 40 years old as part of the emerging tasks due to the loss of one of the structures.

The purpose is to guarantee pedestrian and vehicular traffic between the center and the neighborhoods in the northern area of ​​the cantonal capital of Girón.

Municipal technicians with the support of the National Risk and Emergency Management Service (SNGRE), as well as universities and private consultants, carried out the respective monitoring.

The result showed that there are no structural failures to date that put the Antonio Flor and 3 de Noviembre bridges at risk.

Likewise, the municipality carried out corrective maintenance a few days ago on the roadway of the Antonio Flor bridge with the aim of improving vehicular traffic for the population.  

Andrés Valdiviezo, municipal director of Public Works, stressed that this bridge does not present any failure or alert as if the Arturo Sández bridge was registered in October 2021.

As far as the 3 de Noviembre bridge is concerned, it is in perfect condition for traffic. Valdiviezo recalled that the structure was built in 1940, and due to its characteristics, it is considered heritage. 

Integrated

On the other hand, the council signed an inter-institutional cooperation agreement with the University of Azuay (UDA) on February 23 for the comprehensive engineering design that allows the construction of a new bridge on Arturo Sández street.

The agreement was set at more than 16 thousand dollars, of which the municipality contributes about 10 thousand dollars and the UDA with six thousand dollars. The study must conclude in 60 days.

The intention is to have the reference value of the construction of the new bridge, which is initially estimated between 750 thousand to one million dollars. In addition to soil, hydrological, hydraulic analysis, technical specifications, general plans, among other documentation necessary to manage resources.

The inhabitants of the area are expectant to know the result of the study, as well as the economic steps that the authorities carry out to build it.  

For Flavio Villa, president of the Pampadel neighborhood, one of the areas affected by the fall of the Arturo Sández bridge, a new structure is needed to facilitate the inhabitants.

The municipality, with the support of other institutions such as the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works (MTOP), and the Provincial GAD maintains the work to remove debris that fell into the river from the previous structure. (BPR)-(I)

Detail 

The Cantonal Operations and Emergencies Committee (COE) of Girón, chaired by Mayor José Miguel Uzhca, maintains the declaration of an emergency due to the fall of the Arturo Sández street bridge.

Rains wreak havoc on roads

The rains affected the rural areas of the Girón canton last Saturday night. The municipal administration with the support of the Fire Department and other institutions carried out mitigation tasks.

In a press release from the municipality, it was announced that there were two considerable emergencies due to the storm. On the Girón-Santa Teresita road there was a sinkhole at the crossing of the Llimbi irrigation canal (Bellavista sector).

Likewise, there was a blockage in the Bellavista stream, affecting the highway that connects this community with the area of ​​San Vicente with high agricultural and livestock production.

The council also resolved that day as a preventive measure to close the water intake to the treatment plant due to the turbidity caused by the rains.

Meanwhile, the water reserves of the cantonal center and Ludo were activated so that the inhabitants do not run out of service until the quality of the water that enters the treatment plant is guaranteed.