MIGDALIS CAÑIZALEZ V.
EL UNIVERSAL

Endless queues early in the morning on Caracas-La Guaira old highway in the direction of the coast, made transit authorities to provide access through El Paují sector to the thoroughfare of El Limón neighborhood, even though the road is not appropriate for vehicle transit.

Very early in the morning, there was so much traffic congestion on the old highway in the direction of La Guaira that drivers were anguished and upset. "The queue is beyond all bearing. What is happening up there?" drivers wondered. They spent more than half an hour to complete only the first kilometers on the old highway to the coast.

In the meantime, street vendors across the way capitalized on high vehicle turnout.

In the branch from Catia to the entry of El Limón neighborhood, through El Paují, of about eight kilometers, the queue took over one and a half hour. As expected, last Monday school and financial operations resumed both in the capital area and the central coast. Therefore, the capacity on the old highway, the preferred alternative way following the closure of Caracas-La Guaira freeway due to the viaduct collapse, was exceeded.

After 9:00 a.m., the authorities coordinating transit operations resolved to provide light vehicles access through El Limón neighborhood, at the entry of El Paují sector, in order to ease traffic on the old highway.

The news spread rapidly. "They are providing access through El Limón," drivers told each other, resulting in abnormal congestion in the neighborhood narrow streets.

Reckless drivers who managed to get access found that the road is not appropriate for transit. Also, there are no signals showing straight passage to the highway.

In the absence of signals, neighbors placed placards to show the access and led drivers to the exit.

Translated by Conchita Delgado