The National Institute of Roads (You send) has decided to permanently close the Cusiana transversal that connects the departments of Boyacá and Casanare, after a visit by specialists to the corridor Sogamoso – Aguazul. During the inspection, an increase in the size of the soil pathologies was detected, which generates instability in the area and fissures cross sections on the viaduct roadways Crickets, composed by the Los Grillos, Puente Nuevo and Chorro Blanco bridges. This situation represents a imminent danger for communities and road users.
He Director General of Invías, Juan Carlos Montenegro Arjona, He explained: “We know that this is an uncomfortable decision for those who travel along the corridor, but our duty is to preserve the lives of Colombians. For this reason, we have decided to close this road, including pedestrians and motorcycles, due to the instability of the terrain that directly affects the structure of the bridge, especially between km 81 and km 90.
Due to cracks in three bridges, the Government closed an important road intersection in Colombia: learn about the changes
Montenegro Arjona highlighted that The failure is not due to the structure of the bridge itself, but to the general mass movement of the area, exacerbated by heavy rainfall in the country. This movement cannot be stopped, but steps can be taken to protect users.
To ensure the mobility between Boyacá and Casanare, Invías has arranged the following alternative routes:
- Bogotá – Villavicencio – Yopal: for all types of vehicles.
- Sogamoso – Belén – Socha – Sácama – La Cabuya – Aguazul: for vehicles weighing less than 25 tons.
Technical report on the cracks in the Cusiana transversal bridges
The technical report noted that, following the detection of cracks in the deck and beams of the “Chorro Blanco” bridge at km 81 + 550worrying pathologies were observed such as the increase in the size of the cracks in the beams and the appearance of other transversal ones in the roads. In addition, noises were reported in the structure due to the breaking of tension cables on the viaduct. Under these conditions, the structure is not safe and it is difficult to intervene to contain the movement of the mountain, which forces a total closure, even to pedestrians and motorcycles.
You can also read: Giant rocks fell in a slide on the Cundinamarca road: if you are going to travel, take precautions
For additional information on the real-time road status, It is recommended to consult the following channels:
- Free line #767 from any cellular operator.
- WhatsApp channel (+57) 1 7426767 with the IVI (Intelligent Road Information) assistant available 24 hours a day.
- Road map and the Safe Traveler web portal at www.invias.gov.co.
