The route leading to the town of Galipán is being used as an alternative road between Caracas and La Guaira. Some sections of the route have been cordoned off to warn of the existing road shoulder damage. (Photo: Rodolfo Castillo)
As a result of the collapse of a viaduct on a highway connecting Caracas to La Guaira’s port, commuters of this main route are being forced to use alternative routes to their homes, workplaces, and even to the port and the Caracas airport. Aside from the so called “old highway”, another alternative route that is being used is the one leading to the town of Galipán, which also connects to the coastal town of Macuto by crossing El Avila National Park from north to south.
Galipán’s native population is located on the northern slope of the park and their main economic activities are flower cultivation and tourism, making the highway an important communication link for the transport of local products and tourist access to the town and other park recreational areas, such as the sector called Los Venados.
Due to the increase in traffic volume, it has been estimated that a total of two-thousand vehicles use this highway daily in both directions. This has caused the implementation of control measures and support to users carried out by INPARQUES, Civil Protection, the National Guard, and several police corps. Although the highway has a cement surface, only four-wheel, off-road vehicles are allowed to use it, due to its steep slopes and sharp curves.
Some impacts are expected as a result of the high and constant volume of traffic that is currently using the highway, such as the increase of road shoulder damage and the formation of fissures in the paved surface on unstable soil land. Some areas of this route had shown this problem before the road was closed. There have been several car accidents on this highway due to driver inexperience or the lack of knowledge on the condition of the road. The majority of the accidents were caused by speeding. It is thus recommended to use four-wheel drive, decelerate by shifting gears, and travel at a reasonable speed. Another important recommendation for those who use this highway is to avoid throwing solid waste outside their vehicles and dispose of the trash in designated places.
Although the highway existed before the creation of the protected area, there has never been an impact study of its effects on the park’s flora and fauna. The resumption of traffic on the Caracas-La Guaira road requires the construction of a new viaduct and a new sector of paved road, which is estimated to take a couple of years. Meanwhile, a “contingency” route, currently under construction, is expected to be functioning as a temporary connection between the old highway and the stretch of the new highway that is in good condition. It is important to monitor the effects of this unexpected traffic volume on the Galipán route within El Avila National Park.
Sources: INPARQUES, El Universal Newspaper.