For some time now the underground crosswalk “Переход” or Pirijod de Manuel by Holguín people, ceased to be a utilitarian construction to become a space of filth and fetid stagnant waters without a definitive solution that rescues its aesthetic and social functionality.
Located on Libertadores Avenue in an area of public affluence -near the Dagoberto Sanfiel intermunicipal bus terminal and the Major General Calixto García Íñiguez baseball stadium- this work of Holguin civil engineering, designed in the Russian style, had years ago -although ephemeral- a profitable and ornamental use; but today its image affects the urban and environmental conception to which this city, one of the most populated in Cuba, aspires.
Its construction was based on a project that sought to improve road safety in a stretch of road with heavy automobile traffic. A good purpose that until today justifies its investment; however, neglect in its maintenance and conservation and social indiscipline and inadequate and irresponsible citizen behaviors have caused the loss of its use.
At present, Holguin people can not make use of this underground crosswalk because it is in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Occasionally, due to specific epidemiological situations or festive celebrations in nearby areas, there are some sanitary actions that improve, for a few days, its hygienic situation and the drainage of its foul-smelling and retained waters.
And apparently for now there are no definite solutions in sight because according to technical opinions of the UNAICC in the province and evaluations of the physical conditions of the location of this work, any variant to restore its use is costly and complex because the typical rocks of the area have a high presence of cracks and fractures and therefore favor the infiltration and transmission of groundwater.
In other words, from a hydrogeological point of view, the site chosen for this type of construction is considered unfavorable. It should be noted that when it is decided to build a public work it is necessary to ensure that all the conditions for its execution exist and, above all, that the technical opinion prevails.
The engineering proposals so far evaluated to solve this problem recommend grouting and architectural repair, to greatly attenuate the inflow of groundwater, without ensuring permanent effectiveness due to the high cracking of the rocks; or alternative assessment of the construction of an overhead pedestrian walkway.
But, years go by and still there is no answer to this problem. Is it worth to rescue the “Переход” underground crosswalk?
It is clear that the current economic and financial difficulties are not in its favor, at least for now. However, unfortunately, it is an example that when the prevention of the long-term architectural, social and environmental impact of infrastructures fails, the economic and human resources invested fall on deaf ears.
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