As rain washes out bridges and triggers landslides, Zamora and Lloret propose a toll road solution

A bridge in downtown Loja was partially destroyed Monday night as heavy rains continue throughout the country. Near Cuenca, crews are working around the clock to clear landslides on the Cuenca-to-Guayaquil highway while Transportation Ministry engineers are considering installing prefabricated Bailey bridges in two locations near Girón.

Flooding from the Malacatos River in downtown Loja destroyed a portion of a bridge on Monday night.

Early Monday night, the National Meteorology Institute radars showed rain in most of the country, with intense showers in Loja, Bolívar, Manabí and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Provinces. Ecuador’s Risk Management Service reports that at least 18 people have died due to flooding and landslides since the third week in February, while at least a thousand others are being housed in temporary shelters due to damage and destruction to their homes.

The weather service predicts more heavy train through Friday.

In Loja, a section of the bridge over the Malacatos River collapsed as logs and uprooted trees piled up against bridge supports on Calle Mercadillo. City crews removed smaller debris, but a crane was required to remove larger trees. The mayor’s office said there were concerns for the structural integrity of a second bridge over the Malacatos as the flood level is expected to continue through Tuesday.

On Monday, Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora and Azuay Province Prefect Juan Cristóbal Lloret called the highway conditions in the province “unsustainable” and planned to meet with Transportation Ministry officials to present a new proposal.

Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora and Azuay Province Prefect Juan Cristóbal Lloret say “patchwork” repairs to local highways must be replaced by a comprehensive reconstruction plan.

“The terrible road situation in Azuay Province and the entire southern region of the country has been neglected by the government for years,” Zamora said. “The progressive deterioration has been addressed with patchwork fixes to flood damage and these do not last. It is time we develop a comprehensive solution.”

He added that portions of the Pan American highway north of Cuenca, in Cañar and Chimborazo Provinces must also be rebuilt. “We had promises three years ago that this would happen, but they went unfulfilled.”

If the government does not have the funds to address the problem, Lloret says “alternative measures,” such as toll roads that would include private investment, must be considered. “We can’t continue with the current condition,” he said. “I don’t like the toll road idea, but it may be the only way out of the dilemma.”

The proposal Zamora and Lloret plan to present to the Transportation Ministry requires an immediate investment of $60 million to repair highway infrastructure. “These cannot be the patches we see on the Pan American in Girón and on the highway through the Cajas. They must include redesign and reconstruction of the problem areas,” Zamora says.

In addition to the initial $60 million, Zamora and Lloret say an additional $100 million is needed to add additional traffic lanes and interchanges. “Our road system is already overburdened and needs added capacity,” Lloret says. “In this regard, once again, we are seeing piecemeal additions and changes but no comprehensive long-term plan.”

The mayor and prefect say the plan will be funded by the collection of tolls if the government cannot guarantee the money. “We are tired of the promises and need a guarantee,” Zamora says. “The municipality of Cuenca and the Azuay prefectura will take the lead in a public-private project if necessary and work out the financial details.”