Othón P. Blanco, Q.R. — The Mexican Confederation of the Construction Industry (CMIC) says they are concerned about the visual deficiencies of the Maya Train bridges. The agency expressed its concern following recent meetings with the College of Civil Engineers.
Ulises Morales Estrada, President of the Confederación Mexicana de la Industria de la Construcción (CMIC), says they have found visual structural problems. While the problems are not considered catastrophic, they are questioning the quality of the construction.
Morales Estrada says key factors such as soil mechanics were not adequately considered which could compromise the stability of the bridges. Although this is not a catastrophic scenario, the deficiencies are evident and require immediate attention, he said.
The CMIC is asking the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena), who was in charge of the construction, to provide a full report on several of the bridges. The bridges of concern are Expofer at the entrance to the city of Chetumal, Huay-Pix and Xul-Ha areas, all in the south.
According to Morales Estrada, the bridges have visible problems that could compromise the mobility and safety of users. Among the deficiencies noted are the lack of consideration of soil mechanics studies and other essential technical factors. Although this is not a fatalistic scenario, the problems detected at first glance generate uncertainty about the quality of the work.
Morales Estrada says the plans and design for the bridges have been classified as national security information which limits access to technical details and makes independent evaluation by experts difficult.
This lack of transparency, he says, has been a cause for concern for both the CMIC and civil society. The CMIC has requested that the structural diagnosis be made public and that the participation of engineering and architectural associations be included.
Morales Estrada said that although it is not considered necessary to demolish the bridges, a complete reinforcement is required to guarantee their functionality and safety.
The lack of a detailed report by Sedena not only creates uncertainty, but also puts at risk the confidence in one of the flagship projects of the federal government. The CMIC has reiterated the importance of transparency and collaboration with experts to ensure that the work meet the quality standards necessary for the region.
