CARACAS-LA GUAIRA BRIDGE COLLAPSES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000742

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD, USOFFICE FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR
CLAMBERT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAIR ETRD KDEM PGOV ASEC VE
SUBJECT: CARACAS-LA GUAIRA BRIDGE COLLAPSES

REF: CARACAS 00459

This message is sensitive but unclassified, please treat
accordingly.

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Summary
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1. (SBU) On March 19, the closed bridge linking Caracas and
its international air and sea ports collapsed. Chavez and
the Ministry of Infrastructure (MINFRA) both stated that the
BRV had knowledge of the imminent collapse and were planning
to demolish the bridge, but that they didn't release this
information due to "fear of rumors." The narrow bypass road,
opened on February 26, has absorbed most of the traffic flow
and has reduced travel time to the airport over three-fold.
However, significant delays are still reported during rush
hours and steep pitching on the sides of the road could pose
mudslide risk when the rainy season begins in a few weeks.
The coastal state of Vargas is showing signs of recovery as
tourists return. Post lifted travel restrictions on March 8,
ending armored shuttle service and allowing Embassy personnel
to use personal vehicles to travel the bypass road. End
Summary.

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Bridge collapses, BRV reaction
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2. (SBU) On the morning of Sunday, March 19, the
structurally-damaged bridge linking Caracas and La Guaira
collapsed, leaving mounds of debris and a dramatic photo
opportunity (Note: to see images of the collapse visit
www.eluniversal.com/2006/03/19/pol fot 19A684759.shtml. End
Note.) The Vice-Minister for Infrastructure appeared shortly
on the scene, declaring that the BRV had made plans over the
last week to demolish the structure, but had not publicly
announced it in order to "avoid rumors." A day earlier, a
MINFRA spokesperson had said that the bridge was not in "a
grave situation" (read: imminent danger of collapse).
President Chavez, in his March 19 "Alo Presidente," "thanked
the bridge" for its 50-plus years of service, and took the
opportunity to attack Globovision, an opposition-leaning news
channel, for attempting to criticize the government's
handling of the bridge crisis and infrastructure issues in
general.

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Traffic flow back to normal, kind of
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3. (U) Since the opening of the two-lane, 2.5 km bypass road
on February 26 (Ref A),the average time to get to the
airport from Caracas has decreased considerably (from 3-5 hrs
average to one hour or less). However, there are still some
delays along the way. During rush hours or when cargo
traffic is heavy, the wait to get on the bypass road
increases considerably (up to 3 hrs in some instances),and
the National Guard has periodically cut off traffic to allow
both lanes to move in one direction in order to clear out
backlogs. The road is in good condition, but steep pitching
on either side poses a significant mudslide threat. MINFRA
is installing netting and barriers along the road in an
effort to mitigate this risk.


4. (U) The road, while greatly alleviating the traffic flow
problems caused by use of the "Old Highway," cannot fully
replace the pre-closure capacity. Due to delays, many
travelers still choose the "Old Highway," despite removal of
National Guard presence and safety concerns. The state of
Vargas is showing signs of recuperation and weekend beaches
are again filled with tourists.

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Post lifts restrictions
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5. (U) In view of the bridge bypass road opening, Post

CARACAS 00000742 002 OF 002


lifted travel restrictions for Embassy personnel on March 8,
suspending armored shuttle service indefinitely. Embassy
personnel are free to use their personal vehicles or other
transport on the bridge bypass road and on the Galipan-Avila
route (on 4x4 vehicles only). The "Old Highway" is
off-limits for personnel at all times, due to safety
concerns.

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Comment
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6. (SBU) The collapse of the fractured bridge was
predictable and expected, given the unstable geology of the
area. The BRV's statements that the bridge was going to be
demolished are dubious, since neither the Ministry of
Infrastructure nor anyone else in the BRV had announced that
previously. The excuse of "avoiding rumors" masks the
irresponsibility of withholding information on the obvious
safety risks of the collapse. The BRV was lucky that nobody
was under the bridge when it fell. The bridge collapse is a
powerful image that some media outlets tried to use to
exemplify Chavez' poor record on infrastructure. However, it
has not had visible political implications for Chavez so far.
End Comment.
BROWNFIELD