Costa Rica relaunches works on troubled bridge

Costa Rica has launched works to expand and reinforce the bridge that crosses the Virilla river, located near the city of Heredia.

The works include adding anti-seismic fittings and widening the bridge by two lanes for a total of six lanes.

Costa Rican company Codocsa is carrying out the works, which are expected to be wrapped up in roughly one year.

Required investment in the project is approximately 7.4bn colones (US$14.2mn), according to a release from Costa Rica's presidency.

The Central American for economic integration Cabei is financing the project, the release said.

Costa Rica's public works and transport minister Carlos Villalta noted that drivers will hardly be inconvenienced by the works, as the majority will be carried out beneath the crossing and during night hours.

The bridge, known locally as La Platina, has been problematic for drivers over the years and became a symbol of inefficiency of public officials. In 2008, a metal sheet dislodged on the bridge, causing cars to shake while crossing. Costa Rica's troubled national road authority Conavi administered works to buttress the sheet (La Platina), repair works that endured for around one week, according to local media reports.

In 2010, a project to change the cement floor of the bridge and add new beams proved fruitless, as the lighter bridge became more volatile for passing cargo trucks, El Mundo Costa Rica reported.

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