Tijuana

Work to repair El Chaparral bridge in Tijuana begins

This bridge is used by 15,000 drivers every day, many of them American citizens

Photo by: Cortesía: Ayuntamiento de Tijuana

By Sergio Carrillo2023-08-12T00:56:00+00:00

In order to safeguard the lives of at least 15,000 daily drivers, the Municipal Administration of Tijuana, led by mayor Montserrat Caballero Ramírez, began preliminary work to repair the El Chaparral bridge with an investment that will reach up to 75 million pesos.

The head of the Secretariat of Territory, Urban, and Environmental Development (SDTUA), Enrique Bautista Corona, stated that the project will last approximately 6 months and will be restored with the municipal government's own resources.

Our mayor responded immediately to citizens' request, which is why she told us to handle this issue and look for a way to resolve it. Though the road is managed by the federation, the municipal administration will always react in order to benefit Tijuana natives and our city's visitors.

Puente El Chaparral. Courtesy: Municipal Administration of Tijuana

The Secretary explained that in meetings and while supervising the project, the joint work with the Pedestrian and Vehicular Bridge Committee, consisting of the College of Civil Engineers, the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC), and municipal agencies such as the Metropolitan Institute of Planning (IMPLAN), was the standout.

Bautista Corona explained that preliminary work of this project will need to be carried out to establish, delineate, and protect the land so that the work can begin.

He stated that staff in the area began to prepare the space so that technical work could be carried out, in which the demolition of the bridge won't be necessary.

Staff of the Municipal Adminisrtation in preliminary work in Puente El Chaparral. Courtesy: Municipal Administration of Tijuana

The head of SDTUA reaffirmed that this bridge is of great importance due to the vehicular flow from abroad, on which 15,000 drivers travel every day. This is why the resources used for this project were approved in a session by the Council of Municipal Civil Protection, as it is an urgent manner that the population needs.

Bautista Corona highlighted that an invitation was made for a public bid of the second phase of the project, where the installation of a connective device plaque and the strengthening of the bank will be contemplated. The support device will be placed after the banks have been cast according to previously established heights.

In addition, seismic metallic bumps will be installed in order to strengthen the superstructure and there will be a leveling once more of the bearing layer and support by Tetrón.

Municipal Administration of Tijuana works to repair Puente El Chaparral. Courtesy: Municipal Administration of Tijuana

Once this work has been concluded so that the structure can be used, hydraulic jacks will be removed and its adequate function will be verified. This area currently has safety elements for safeguarding.