Leaks in the Line tunnel in Havana worry drivers

Cuban drivers expressed their concerns about the appearance of leaks and leaks in the capital's Línea tunnel, a disturbing situation that has also been reported in the Havana Bay Tunnel.

“Alert all drivers: the Línea tunnel (direction from Vedado towards Playa) is also getting water,” warned a Cuban driver in the group of Facebook ‘Bus & Truck Accidents. For more experience and fewer victims!'

An image shared in his publication exposed the splash left on the windshield by a leak while he was passing through the tunnel that passes under the river. Almendares of the capital, inaugurated in 1953, 71 years ago, and pioneer of this type of road in Cuba.

“The one in Bahía is also in the same situation and there is another publication about this. It's already alarming. When there is a collapse of any of the tunnels there will be no time for anything. “I think it is time for the authorities to take urgent action to avoid losses, both material and human,” added the author of the publication.

Built by the Construction Company Société des Grands Travaux de Marseille, the one known as the Line Tunnel closed to traffic in mid-July of last year, “for construction maintenance and repair work,” according to the Provincial Road Safety Commission, which reported that the repair works were carried out by the Tunnel Conservation Company, an entity that does not even appear in an Internet search.

According to the official media Havana Tribune, the tubes that make up the Linea tunnel conduits were melted on site. According to this medium, perhaps due to the technology used, this tunnel lacks the settlement problems that give rise to cracks, as occurs in the other two (the one from the bay and the one on 5th Avenue).

The risk posed by leak problems in this infrastructure that is more than half a century old was a cause of concern for several users who commented on the publication.

“On Sunday I passed by and the path to Havana had only one lane that could be passed. In the part where it is leaking, I saw a large leak, a crack in the wall tile. I was shocked to see that and that the authorities do nothing yet. Honestly, it's scary to happen and one day what no one wants to happen happens," said one user.

“When several people die, then they blame the blockade,” protested a user. “Personally, I avoid tunnels,” noted another.

“When it breaks, no one will fix that. There is no technology for that here. The unfortunate thing is that a day passes when there is a large flow of traffic during peak hours. Can you imagine (God forbid) four articulated buses full of people, and that thing collapsing? What I am saying may seem like nonsense, but it is more than worrying and alarming,” concluded the complainant of this alarming situation.