Autopista Sinkhole Problem Dates Back To The Mid 90's

The sinkhole in the westbound lanes of the autopista General Cañas almost two weeks ago (Gigantic Crater Shuts Down The General Cañas) dates back to a complaint filed by Roberto Federspiel in the mid 90's, for which nothing was ever done about it.



Federspiel took his case to the Constitutional Court which sided with him and ordered the municipality to intervene the creek.

Federspiel was back to court in 1999, this after the municipality's inaction and the Court again ordering an intervention and an investigation into the possible commissions of a crime of disobedience.

Fourteen years have gone by since Federspiel complained about the problems at the creek and the lack of action since is the result of the sinkhole that paralyzed the Central valley for two days and a source of shame for the country as a hole, sorry, a whole.

A study commissioned by Federspiel exposed the problems arising out of the urbanization and industrialization of the watershed of the Guaria stream.

The development of the area north of the autopista increase the water flow of the creek, which today peaks at 100 cubic meters of water per second.

Another element adding to the concern is the speed of the water, which reaches up to 7 meters per second and carries waste in its path.



Among the main recommendations of the study done by Fedespiel are the implementation of gaps to slow down the water, before making its way under the autopista.

Federspiel went back to the Constitutional Court, for a fourth time, looking for answers. This was in early May of this year, weeks before the sink hole destroyed two lanes of the autopista.

Today, the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (CONAVI) is assessing the problem and with soil tests and digial 3D imaging by the Laboratorio Nacional de Materiales y Modelos Estructurales, Universidad de Costa Rica (LANAMME), hope to solve the problem that raised the concerns of Federspiel almost two decades back.

The autopista now counts with two Bailey bridges to move traffic - slowly, but moving - through the affected area, while work crews continue working underneath.

At first it was estimated that the repairs would be finished in three weeks, some saying even as early as ten days.

Given the magnitude of the problem Christmas may come and go before the autopista is whole again.

One of the stumbling blocks causing delays in the progress of the repair is the relocation of an oil pipeline, work that has to be carried out by the state refinery, RECOPE.