Presidente Prudente officials deny collapse risk for Salim Farah Maluf Avenue structure

Concerns have been raised regarding the structural integrity of a bridge located on Salim Farah Maluf Avenue in Presidente Prudente, Brazil. Local residents and business owners reported that heavy rains caused severe erosion at the base of the structure, leading to fears of an imminent collapse. The area experiences heavy daily traffic, including cars, buses, and large trucks, increasing the potential for a major accident.

In response to these concerns, the Municipal Secretariat of Works conducted an evaluation alongside the Municipal Secretariat of Urban Mobility. The Secretary of Works, Marco Antônio Colombo Franco, stated that the structure is technically not a bridge but a reinforced concrete structure on filled land, and therefore does not pose a collapse risk. He noted that the primary risk is currently limited to the sidewalk, which has been signaled. The city administration attributed the erosion to recent heavy rainfall and announced that improvement works on the structure are scheduled to begin next week.