The highway from Cochabamba to Santa Cruz is the main thoroughfare through Bolivia, and without it; Santa Cruz would be cut off from all materials – diesel, gas, food. This past week the waters in Rio Pirai, close to Montero, caused problems. Although the water is not high, its force is wearing away the soft banks. Last year and enormous amount of time and money was spent building ‘defensibles’ that were meant to prevent this erosion but already these have broken and the river has changed its course.
Last week the water was about 50 to 75m. from the road and now it is starting to undercut the bank. The pavement is cracking. The military and road crews are building cages for rocks and sand and literally throwing them over, along with logs, to give the bank some protection.
Last week the water was about 50 to 75m. from the road and now it is starting to undercut the bank. The pavement is cracking. The military and road crews are building cages for rocks and sand and literally throwing them over, along with logs, to give the bank some protection.
While work is done on the road, all traffic is stopped. Long line ups occur. Traffic can proceed through the work zone for an hour while the men have lunch or when the work day is finished. Trucks and cars line the road while vendors sell food and drinks to those waiting to cross. Truckers take a snooze under their vehicles, lying either on the asphalt or in a hammock. Trufi taxis and moto taxis ferry people to the front of the line where they walk through the construction zone, then hire another taxi on the other side and proceed to their destination
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