Trucks destroying streets in Casco Viejo

The trucks that played such a big part in creating the potholes on Panama’s streets during the construction boom years are now wreaking damage on the centuries old roads in Casco Viejo.

With increased commercial and private remodeling underway the three avenues and 15 streets in the area are suffering the same sort of battering that roads in the city took when trucks roared round the clock delivering land fill to the Cinta Costera, or concrete and building materials to new condo and office structures.
Residents in the old city are outraged at the decreasing quality of the infrastructure.
Old cobblestones that have survived for generations have been crushed or collapsed in many sectors leaving gaping holes or depressions, and when repairs have been made, it is usually just an ugly patch of asphalt.
Residents claim that the holes are not only a danger to vehicles, but to pedestrians, in areas where most people walk on the road.
Dario Cadavid, director of the Casco’ Viejo’s administration told La Prensa that to rehabilitate the roads and sidewalks of San Felipe is would take about $ 15 million and upkeep would have to be on an ongoing basis, because if the maintenance work is interrupted, the cost "would be greater" .
Cadavid, however, said the rehabilitation work can’t start if the trucks are going to continue destroying the streets.
Regulations say that no truck over seven tones or more than seven meters long, two meters wide and 2.75 meters high can be used in the old city.
But the reality is says La Prensa, that dump trucks and trucks carrying construction materials over seven tons pass through regularly.
Members of the Neighborhood Association and Friends of Casco Viejo have asked have been spurred to ask authorities to let them contribute labor for the rehabilitation work.