July 12, 2017
When the media in the U.S. talks about the relationship that Cuba has with the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela it is always described simply as based on Cuba’s dependency on Venezuelan oil leaving out perhaps a more important aspect of it; the solidarity between the two nations that has been able to accomplish so much together. From Operation Milagro that has provided vision restoration operations to 2 million people all over Latin America to the Yo Si Puedo literacy campaign that has provided adults in 30 countries with the opportunity to read and write. This article is one more example in explaining the depth of that relationship. Immediately after Hurricane Matthew ripped through Guantanamo Province destroying the important bridge over the Toa River, which connected Baracoa to Moa, Venezuela immediately sent engineers and materials to help rebuild it. – edit
The construction of the new bridge over the Toa River, which collapsed on October 5, 2016, due to the strength of Hurricane Matthew, is proceeding on plan with the optical fiber cable already established.
Major Germain Veloz, Commander of Simon Bolívar International Civilian-Military Brigade of Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance in charge of the work, told ACN that the construction is at 25 percent of completion and that only 12 out of the 65 piles that will guarantee the support of the bridge, are not yet in place yet.
He stressed that these initial tasks are among the most complex of the project, and have been satisfactorily overcome, despite occasional and prolonged downpours that have slowed them down.
He added that the brigade includes 53 Venezuelan workers that are supported by local personnel, who work together daily from early in the morning to late into the night.
By the end of this month, the South American nation will send a vessel with 50-meter-long steel beams, along with pins, fences, and wire nettings, indispensable elements for the next stage of the schedule.
The whole project will need 3,100 metric meters of high quality concrete, which is being supplied and donated by a modern and automated plant in Venezuela to produce a strong and safe bridge. The project began on March 12.
December 22 of this year is the date the 223 meter bridge is projected to reopen. The bridge will be 11 meters, wider than the previous one.
http://www.cubanews.acn.cu/cuba/7111-work-on-bridge-over-largest-cuban-river-continues-at-good-pace
Source: ACN