A crack in the highway overpass at the highway overpass located at Lázaro Cárdenas and Gómez Morín in Mexico City. Photo: El Imparcial

By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS

According to a report published in El Imparcial newspaper on Wednesday, May 5, the recent collapse of the Olivo segment of the Line 12 Metro in Mexico City could be just the first of a series of infrastructure disasters in the nation’s capital.

According to the El Imparcial report, the highway overpass located at Lázaro Cárdenas and Gómez Morín is severely damaged with a visual crack that is continuing to expand.

The newspaper verified this allegation with photos of the damaged parts of the bridge.

Notwithstanding, a spokesperson for the Mexican Construction Industry Chamber (CMIC) told El Imparcial that the overpass “should be constantly monitored, due to the anomalies it presents, although it is not a short-term risk.”

Still, it must be assumed that the CMIC has a vested interest in assuring the safety of the overpass since it is probable that the structure was constructed by one or more of its members.

After the Line 12 Metro tragedy, it would seem advisable for the Mexico City government to invest in rebuilding and refortifying its existing infrastructure.

An ounce of prevention…