Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CARACAS1263
2006-05-10 19:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
CARACAS-LA GUAIRA BYPASS ROAD CLOSED AGAIN
how-toVZCZCXRO0391 RR RUEHAO DE RUEHCV #1263 1301912 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 101912Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4428 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6431 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1198 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 1976 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0206 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2056 RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0793 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 0455 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0176
UNCLAS CARACAS 001263
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DAN TOMLINSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAIR ETRD KDEM PGOV ASEC VE
SUBJECT: CARACAS-LA GUAIRA BYPASS ROAD CLOSED AGAIN
REF: A. CARACAS 742
B. CARACAS 459
This message is sensitive but unclassified, please treat
accordingly.
UNCLAS CARACAS 001263
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DAN TOMLINSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAIR ETRD KDEM PGOV ASEC VE
SUBJECT: CARACAS-LA GUAIRA BYPASS ROAD CLOSED AGAIN
REF: A. CARACAS 742
B. CARACAS 459
This message is sensitive but unclassified, please treat
accordingly.
1. (SBU) On May 8, after heavy rains, a landslide blocked
the newly-constructed Bridge Bypass Road (BBR) built to link
Caracas to the main air and sea ports. The 2.5 km road,
opened in late February as an alternate route after the
closure and collapse of the highway bridge, has steep
pitching and lacks metal containment netting in some areas.
Traffic was diverted to the "Old Highway" and other alternate
routes for nearly 20 hours, as Ministry of Infrastructure
(MINFRA) teams cleared the debris. MINFRA announced that
they had "planned" the landslide as a measure to avoid
further damage down the line. (Note: This assertion is
highly dubious, given that there were vehicles on the road
when the landslide occurred. End Note.) On the morning of
May 9, road traffic resumed, with restrictions on heavy and
light traffic and intermittent closures. MINFRA is removing
some loose material from the landslide and installing
additional containment structures to contain susceptible
loose rock.
2. (SBU) On May 9, Post convened a meeting to discuss the
effects of the closure. Since the closures are intermittent,
Post has decided to not restrict Embassy travel, but rather
encourage daylight travel, scheduling ample travel time, and
taking a taxi rather than driving a personal vehicle on the
bypass road. Post will continue to monitor the situation
closely, and re-assess the situation in the case of permanent
road closure.
3. (SBU) Comment: The landslides on this road, given the
onset of the rainy season, were predictable. We can expect
this episode to repeat itself unless MINFRA can adequately
reinforce the pitching to prevent landslide rubble from
obstructing the road. The fact that MINFRA and other members
of the BRV again declared that the damage was "intentional"
shows that MINFRA's policy (and the way the BRV deals with
infrastructure crises in general) is reactive and
uncoordinated. Opposition media, as with the bridge closure,
have taken this opportunity to blast Chavez for his poor
record on this issue. End Comment.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DAN TOMLINSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAIR ETRD KDEM PGOV ASEC VE
SUBJECT: CARACAS-LA GUAIRA BYPASS ROAD CLOSED AGAIN
REF: A. CARACAS 742
B. CARACAS 459
This message is sensitive but unclassified, please treat
accordingly.
1. (SBU) On May 8, after heavy rains, a landslide blocked
the newly-constructed Bridge Bypass Road (BBR) built to link
Caracas to the main air and sea ports. The 2.5 km road,
opened in late February as an alternate route after the
closure and collapse of the highway bridge, has steep
pitching and lacks metal containment netting in some areas.
Traffic was diverted to the "Old Highway" and other alternate
routes for nearly 20 hours, as Ministry of Infrastructure
(MINFRA) teams cleared the debris. MINFRA announced that
they had "planned" the landslide as a measure to avoid
further damage down the line. (Note: This assertion is
highly dubious, given that there were vehicles on the road
when the landslide occurred. End Note.) On the morning of
May 9, road traffic resumed, with restrictions on heavy and
light traffic and intermittent closures. MINFRA is removing
some loose material from the landslide and installing
additional containment structures to contain susceptible
loose rock.
2. (SBU) On May 9, Post convened a meeting to discuss the
effects of the closure. Since the closures are intermittent,
Post has decided to not restrict Embassy travel, but rather
encourage daylight travel, scheduling ample travel time, and
taking a taxi rather than driving a personal vehicle on the
bypass road. Post will continue to monitor the situation
closely, and re-assess the situation in the case of permanent
road closure.
3. (SBU) Comment: The landslides on this road, given the
onset of the rainy season, were predictable. We can expect
this episode to repeat itself unless MINFRA can adequately
reinforce the pitching to prevent landslide rubble from
obstructing the road. The fact that MINFRA and other members
of the BRV again declared that the damage was "intentional"
shows that MINFRA's policy (and the way the BRV deals with
infrastructure crises in general) is reactive and
uncoordinated. Opposition media, as with the bridge closure,
have taken this opportunity to blast Chavez for his poor
record on this issue. End Comment.
BROWNFIELD