Sinking streets after $75 million renovation

THE $75 MILLION l preservation project of in Casco Viejo , which included changing paving and fixing sewerage and electricity lines  is flawed  according to  residents and merchants who complain that the streets are ‘sinking’.

The “completed” project was  delivered by the Odebrecht company  a year ago.

Patrizia Pinzon, of  the Association of Residents and Friends of the Old Town, said that not only are  the streets sinking, but the electrical system is  failing. “I doubt the quality of what they did here,” she said.

The project which began in 2012, was delivered in February 2014 and involved the replacement of cobblestones sewers and electric installations  and the  burying of  cables.

While the project was underway area residents warned of anomalies, including unsuitable paving stones,  which  forced the contractor to buy new bricks.

Hildegard Vasquez, executive director of the Calicanto Foundation, said that from the beginning they warned about the flaws in the placement of the stones.

She said her  office faces problems with clogged drains. and  the electrical system that was installed is not adequate to meet demand.

Jose Antonio Dominguez, former Minister of Public Works,  and member of the Infrastructure Committee of the National Assembly, said that the authorities should submit a complaint for this and other projects that present irregularities.

“If they refuse, they would be become accomplices,” said Dominguez, who has criticized the Cinta Costera Three development.

The Minister of Public Works (MOP), Ramon Arosemena, said that the project was received in 2014 and did not include maintenance.

“Apparently, the damage is slight, but it is best to get a bid to maintain it,” and that would take place in early 2016 said Arosemena.

La Prensa  sought  a comment from Odebrecht, but was directed to the  MOP.