Bridge held in suspense

THE Fernando Reig suspension bridge in Alcoy has again been closed to traffic and pedestrians.

It was closed for five days last week after workmen carrying out maintenance work on the bridge heard a creaking noise. The ground shuddered and cables “moved strangely,” they said afterwards.

Civil engineering experts from the Ministry of Public Works in Madrid inspected the bridge and closely examined each cable. All were in good condition, they concluded, despite at first assuming that one or more of the hawsers might need replacing.

The Ministry’s announcement that the bridge could reopen came as a relief to city hall as traffic was diverted during the days that it was closed, initially creating traffic chaos. 

Six days later the Ministry ordered the Local Police to reclose the bridge while one of the cables was replaced and  to let engineers assess the structure’s reaction to the substitution.  

Alcoy City Hall received the news with resignation as well as irritation especially as it learnt of the closure through the police.

Sources from the national government delegation to the Valencian Community explained that the entire structure will be comprehensively studied and the bridge’s south-bound lane will reopen once this has been completed.