The Councilor for Citizen and Road Safety of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, Evelyn Alonso, announced yesterday that, from her area, surveillance over the traffic regulations established for the use of the provisional bridge installed by the Army in the town of San Andrés. “We have been informed by the military that various damages are being generated in this structure due to the fact that many drivers are not respecting the limitations when traveling through the provisional bridge,” explained the mayor. The Consistory intends to have a police presence in the area for the surveillance of this fundamental bridge for the connection of the towns of Anaga.
Alonso assured that, “although the bridge does not present a risk of collapse, it is true that there are certain pieces that are suffering damage, for example, due to the fact that up to three vehicles pass at the same time when circulation is limited to circulating one at a time. ; It has also been found that traffic is faster than allowed and vehicles have even been seen that, due to their tonnage, are prohibited from using that structure ”.
The report sent by the Army to the Consistory confirms the damage that is taking place on the bridge for these reasons. It should not be forgotten that regularly, since its installation, specialized teams from the military company in charge of this structure carry out inspections and reviews of its condition. Precisely, this document details the defects observed, their causes and even warns that, if this situation continues to increase, and that the damage must be repaired, due to the design of the bridge itself, it should be dismantled for repair.
“We cannot allow the unconsciousness of a few to put at risk this infrastructure that is providing a vital service for the inhabitants and visitors of Anaga, and that while we continue with the repair and replacement work of the old bridge that linked San Andrés with the ( TF-12) ”, concluded the councilor.
Weight and vibrations
The military report is very clear about the damage that the misuse of said facility is causing. The breakage of some pieces, in principle not fundamental, and whose damage does not compromise the safety of the bridge, at the moment, indicates that up to three cars are passing at the same time. It must be remembered that they are only allowed to circulate one by one, also with a maximum speed of 10 kilometers per hour. These circumstances, excess vehicles and inadequate speed, generate pressure on the materials due to the weight of the cars, but also, and not least, due to the vibrations that affect certain parts.
In addition, it has been found that certain large vehicles, mainly loaded trucks and certain buses, which exceed the maximum limit of 10 tons, have crossed the bridge on several occasions, an issue that puts the most sensitive elements of the structure at risk. and that compromises the safety of the bridge.
