Mazatlán-Culiacán Highway Reopens as Water Subsides

Posted by Maureen Dietrich on 21 Sep 13

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Several detours were still in place as authorities inspected damage to the asphalt.

When category I Hurricane Manuel hit the Sinaloa coast on Thursday between the capital city of Culiacán and Navaloto, its heavy rains swelled rivers and streams along the main Mazatlán-Culiacán autopista flooding the road and washing away slabs of concrete. Civil Protection and police agencies moved quickly to close the highway to traffic.

As the hurricane passed, the rising waters subsided and at 6:00am yesterday the highway was reopened to traffic, although several detours were still in place as authorities inspected damage to the asphalt.

The highway at kilometer 181+007 was the most affected by rising water levels. Here, passenger buses, semi-trailers, trucks and at least one car were stranded on the flooded highway. Media reported today that all passengers and drivers were rescued by other drivers coming upon the scene.

Sinaloa Governor Mario López Valdez held a meeting in Culiacán yesterday with local and federal diputados, senators and Mayors from central zones affected by the hurricane. He told media they estimate 20,254 families in 95 communities were victims of the hurricane and that 4,000 people from 200 communities were evacuated. Thirty percent of roads and 70 percent of urban infrastructure were damaged by the storm. He expected reparation costs would amount to at least 1,200 million pesos.

In Mazatlán, the Ley supermarket stores and Noroeste newspaper set up drop-offs points for donations to victims of the storm, while municipal workers gauged damage done to inner-city roads where dangerous potholes appeared. CFE personnel began work to stabilize a transmission tower on Cerro Colorado when the concrete base broke into pieces, threatening to fall over and sending rocks onto Av. Antonio López Sáenz below.

The only fatality reported from the tropical storm was a 67-year-old Mazatlán fisherman aboard a shrimp trawler. Mazatlán Port Captain, Gustavo Gómez Rangel, said it appeared the cause of death was strong winds which surprised the crew when fishing in the Punta Yameto estero 22 miles from Altata.

 (from Noroeste)