Chile's earthquake repairs

Earthquake repair works continue in Chile, with several bridges reopening and new links being constructed.
February 29, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Earthquake repair works continue in Chile, with several bridges reopening and new links being constructed. In Concepcion in Chile's VIII region, work is underway on a new temporary 1.5km bridge across the Bio Bio River. The temporary bridge has been donated by the US military and will link San Pedro de la Paz and Concepcion, replacing the bridge destroyed in February 2010's earthquake. The temporary bridge will be open to traffic in March 2011 and will help deal with congestion as there are just two bridges across the river at present. Once the new bridge is completed, repair works on the underwater segments of the Chacabuco Bridge will begin, with a completion date set for December 2012.

Some 60,000 vehicles/day will be able to cross the river once the temporary bridge is open, although heavy vehicles will have to use ferry services or use a detour. The Juan Pablo II Bridge has just reopened after being repaired following the earthquake.

Meanwhile four bridges have been reopened on Chile's Vespucio Norte highway near Santiago. The new structures have been designed and built to withstand an earthquake of a similar magnitude to that seen in February 2010.

The reconstruction of the Lo Echevers, Quillicura, Miraflores and Independencia flyovers has taken eight months and cost $15.5 million. Vespucio Norte will still have to invest $ 44 million to complete all of the repair works.
Road Structures

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