---
Executive Director Edwin González Montalvo of the Highways and Transportation Authority (known as ACT in Spanish) declared on Sunday that the access ramp to Fragoso Avenue on highway PR-26, the Baldorioty Expressway, has been reopened after being closed for safety precautions during the mitigation efforts on the retaining wall before the bridge.
“From the moment the incident occurred, we immediately reached out to the mayor of Carolina and activated all available resources to provide assistance,” González Montalvo stated in a written announcement. “Soil experts and engineering personnel from our agency were present to perform the essential evaluations that dictated the subsequent actions required to address the issue.”
In accordance with the advice from ACT’s soil and structural specialists, excavations were carried out behind the wall to remediate polluted material; the saturated soil was replaced with “geo foam,” which was then topped with concrete. Furthermore, storm drains were restored and cleared, a new storm drain was put in place, gutters were installed to manage rainwater and runoff, and mesh was introduced to reduce erosion.
An evaluation indicated that the situation poses no safety threat to the bridge, traffic on the expressway, or the exit ramp.
In the meantime, the ACT has promptly sought access to emergency financial aid from the Federal Highway Administration to cover repairs required due to damage caused by recent heavy rainfall.
