Related videos:
The traffic authorities of Cienfuegos urgently prohibited heavy vehicle transit over the Puente Amarillas 2, in the Southern Circuit between Aguada de Pasajeros and the town of Amarillas in Matanzas, due to an imminent risk of structural collapse.
According to the Provincial Road Authority, recent technical inspections have detected a growing deterioration in the structure of the bridge.
According to the official media Cinco de Septiembre, a critical erosion was identified in the foundations of both abutments and a significant loss of fill in the approaches, which has caused depressions in the roadway and considerably weakened the load-bearing capacity of the bridge.
In this scenario, it was determined that the passage of vehicles weighing over 3.5 tons —such as trucks, buses, and other heavy loading vehicles— poses an extreme risk.
The continued use of the bridge under these conditions could accelerate its deterioration and lead to a partial or total collapse, endangering the lives of drivers and pedestrians, as well as potentially causing severe material damage.
As part of the urgent measures, the immediate installation of visible signs indicating weight and access restrictions was ordered, both at the bridge entrances and at key points along the road.
Alternative routes will also be established, including detours to the elevated section of the National Highway at kilometer 165. To ensure compliance with the prohibition, traffic agents and inspectors from the Ministry of Transport (MITRANS) will be present in the area.
In addition, a thorough structural inspection of the bridge has been conducted, and a Technical Task is already being prepared to immediately undertake the repair and restoration work.
Authorities urge the public and transport operators to comply with the current regulations, reminding them that public safety is the highest priority. The cooperation of everyone is essential to avoid a tragedy and to preserve the integrity of this key road infrastructure for the region.
Deteriorated road infrastructure in Cuba
The situation with the Puente Amarillas 2 is not an isolated case, but rather part of a broader issue concerning the deterioration of road infrastructure in Cuba, which has raised concerns among the public in recent years.
In Havana, residents reported in December 2024 the dangerous condition of the bridge over the Almendares River, in Vedado, pointing out visible cracks, rusted structures, and a general lack of maintenance. The images shared by the inhabitants of Havana highlighted a prolonged state of neglect that poses a risk to pedestrians and vehicles that transit daily through this key artery of the capital.
Another similar case was reported in May 2024, when users alerted about the poor condition of a bridge on the National Highway, near Cárdenas, in the province of Matanzas. At that time, photos showing pronounced cracks in the structure went viral, causing fear among drivers due to the possibility of a collapse.
In April of the same year, a Cuban publicly denounced the critical condition of a bridge on the road connecting Moa to Baracoa, warning about its potential collapse if urgent action was not taken. The lack of signage and preventive measures was one of the main points questioned by the local population.
By 2023, the situation was equally alarming in other parts of the country. In Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara province, locals raised concerns about the serious deterioration of the bridge over the Sagua River, whose structure showed severe damage that endangered both residents and those who crossed the bridge daily.
In July 2022, the collapse of a bridge on the road from Holguín to Mayarí disrupted traffic due to the emergence of a huge sinkhole in the pavement.
These reports reflect a widespread trend of insufficient maintenance and timely repairs on Cuba's bridges and roads, exacerbating the risk of accidents and collapses. The situation with the Puente Amarillas 2 confirms the urgency of implementing more effective policies for the conservation of road infrastructure to prevent tragedies.
Filed under: