Bridge that resisted 20 kilograms of explosives finally demolished

SANTIAGO.- During its second try, the concessionary company finally managed to tear down the Huaquén Bridge, located at the 171st kilometer of Ruta 5 Norte, after the old structure -70 meters long, 8 meters wide and 50 years old- resisted the detonation of 800 loads with 20 kilos of explosives.

During the first try, after the bridge refused to fall, the Minister of Public Works, Sergio Bitar, referred to the incident by saying that "the resistance of the Huaquén Bridge speaks well of Chilean engineers. They underestimated the strength of the bridge. The layers and structure have more steel than expected".

According to the Ministry of Public Works, thirteen days later, at 8:45 am this morning, the concessionary company applied a second load of explosives, causing the bridge to collapse completely so that the wreckage can be disposed of.

Subsequently, a new bridge will be constructed in the same place as its predecessor in accordance with present-day regulations. The new bridge will be 84 meters long and 13 meters wide, with spacious road shoulders. Both the cost of the construction of the new bridge, as well as the demolition of the old bridge, will be absorbed by the concessionary firm.