We know all about the six water systems that the May earthquake damaged in southern Belize...but tonight we’ll tell you about the Rancho Dolores Bridge which was taken out after a gaping fault appeared near one of the approaches. It’s a major setback to the slightly remote rural community – and Jacqueline Godwin visited today to find out more.
Jacqueline GodwinReporting,
In 2008 the Rancho Dolores Bridge was completely submerged following the great flood event of October. Eight months later it was not water damage that cut off access to the village but May’s earthquake that caused the land crack alongside Salt Creek. The fault line which is about one foot wide runs for over a mile and directly under the approach to the Rancho Dolores Bridge. Six days ago the structure collapsed, cutting off the main access into the village.
David Novelo, Sr. Executive Engineer – Ministry of Works
“The abutment has collapsed because the earthquake caused slip failure, you can look at it along the river bank, you see the crack running all along and this has caused the abutment to collapsed, partially. Thank God it did not go all the way.”
Kay Young, Teacher - Our Lady of Sorrows
“I went down there and I was so amazed about this whole entire thing that happened from the earthquake and from the heavy rain. Actually it is an experience for us and we are hoping in the future it gets better than what we are experiencing at this time. To go to Belize City we have to go way down to the bridge to go to Belize City in the morning and we have to get up from four o’clock.”
The only way villagers could get across the river was with the help of a Coast Guard vessel.
David Novelo,
“The earthquake and the earth pressure against the abutment. With the earthquake it was already damaged but the earth pressure contributed more to the collapse of the abutment.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So it would have been just a matter of time for it to collapse?
David Novelo,
“Exactly, just a matter of time.”
Luckily no one was on the approach when it gave way last Thursday night. To
prevent the entire bridge from sinking into the water the Ministry of Works has temporarily reinforced the structure. According to Senior Executive Engineer David Novelo they have also installed a temporary pedestrian crossing so villagers can now walk across. The same cannot be said for vehicular traffic into Rancho Dolores Village.
David Novelo,
“This cannot be rebuilt, this needs to be demolished and a new span has to be built.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So it sounds like it will be sometime before vehicles will be able to access Rancho Dolores.
David Novelo,
“Definitely. What we’re trying to do is to reinforce this so maybe we could have small vehicles to cross but that will be determined later on.”
It is expected that on Wednesday the pedestrian crossing will be fully restored.
David Novelo,
“This work should be completed by tomorrow evening. We’re going to put railings on it for the pedestrians.”
Kay Young,
“Well I think that would be an access point but then I will still believe they need to do a better crossing for the pedestrians, get the bridge back into proper use for the villagers in order for them to commute properly.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And that’s so vehicles can come across.
Kay Young,
“Yes.”
The temporary pedestrian crossing did bring some relief to the staff and students of Our Lady of Sorrows Primary School who missed classes the day after the structure collapsed.
Kay Young,
“On the day that the children couldn’t come across to school, they probably stayed at home for that day because it was difficult for them to cross at that moment so actually they stayed at home instead. As well you had some students from here that go to other schools out in that area on the school and so the school bus couldn’t come over for them so actually most of them stayed home for that day also so as well they were affected.”
Today the Belize Coast Guard crew left Rancho Dolores Village as their services are no longer required but because the entire approach to the bridge will need to be rebuilt we are not sure how long it will be before vehicles can travel into the village..
