The Chilean peacekeepers of the Minustah just completed major repairs on the main bridge [Pont Neuf], of the city of Cap-Haitien in Northern Department.

Repair work of Pont Neuf, financially supported by the Section Community Violence Reduction (CVR), have focused on the cleaning, repairing of the sidewalks and some parts of the pavement, repairing of the guard rails and installation of 37 street lights and signs. The peacekeepers were at work every day from 8:00pm to 5:00am, in order not to disrupt traffic on this bridge which is very busy during the day.

"The people of Cap-Haitien wants, through me, to express its sincere thanks to the Chilean soldiers for the repair of the bridge which was in very poor condition. Indeed, the guard rails were broken, sidewalks and part of the road badly damaged. Every day, we feared that a person falls overboard," declared Deputy Mayor, Mr. Cherenfant.

For its part, the Chilean battalion commander in Cap-Haitien, Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Cabreras Osorio, who congratulated his men for a job well done, has however recalled it remains to strengthen the foundations of the bridge which are not stable.

Built in 1980, the Pont Neuf linking the city center of Cap Haitien to the eastern part of the country. These are the first repair work on this vital highway since the observation of its failure in 2010 by a team of technicians from the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications (MTPTC).

S/ HaitiLibre