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Mayor says height of bridge extension not to affect passage of boats below

Work adding an extension to the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge at Boca del Rio continues. Once this is complete, the original bridge will be dismantled and rebuilt, turning it into a two-lane concrete structure. The bridge will not only be stronger, but according to Mayor Gualberto 'Wally' Nu�ez, it will maintain a reasonable clearance allowing for the passage of large boats below. A couple of tour companies that use the route underneath the bridge to access the lagoon became concerned with the height of the new structure and wondered if the bridge should be at least a foot taller to accommodate bigger boats. Mayor Nu�ez said that when they place the beams, the bridge will have the same height as the old bridge, and it should not cause any inconveniences.

Nu�ez added that they could not build a taller bridge. "If we make it higher, the landing would need to be longer, and there is no space for that," said Nu�ez. The cost of the bridge will be around $2 million, which is financed via a loan the San Pedro Town Council has secured. The Mayor briefly said that his team is working to establish a $20 million bond for other projects like paving streets. The $2 million loan for the bridge would be included in this bond.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun