Engineers Guild asks: Why do bridges collapse so often?

SANTO DOMINGO.- The recurrent collapse of bridges between the mountain towns of San Jose de Ocoa and Rancho Arriba from swelled rivers could be in their structural design, according to Architects and Engineers Guild (Codia) president Esther Morillo.

For civil and hydraulic engineer Salvador Piñeyro, the lack of management of the topsoil and watersheds lead to runoffs that exceed a bridge’s capacity.

They said contractors would have to answer for damages only if hidden defects in a structure are found.

Morillo said the guild will evaluate and determine the causes, while Piñeyro stressed that the lack of a watershed management plan is one of the major problems.