| | |  News from Around Banderas Bay 
Heavy Rains Wash Out San Pancho Bridge
 Mariano Montes de Oca - PVPulse.com
September 06, 2010
| | Heavy rains in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay continue to cause flood damage. Six to ten inches of rain fell in a seven hour period on Saturday, causing the San Pancho bridge to collapse and the flooding of area streets, homes and businesses. (photos by Octavia Jolley) | |
For the latest news, see these related articles:
Sayulita Flood Recovery Efforts Underway
Help PEACE Support Rain Ravaged Communities
Hwy 200 Road Update and Area Flood Photos
Update: September 09, 2010 - Thursday afternoon, the closed segment along the Tepic - Puerto Vallarta of Highway 200 was reopened to light traffic. No large trucks are allowed. Repairs are still in progress, so authorities are asking people to be extremely cautious and to use HWY 200 only if necessary.
Update: September 08, 2010 - In addition to the two bridges that have collapsed, one in San Pancho and the other in Sayulita, the torrential rains that continue to pummel Jalisco and the southern coast of Nayarit have caused some landslides, blocking Federal Highway 200, Tepic - Puerto Vallarta, from Rincon de Guayabitos to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. As a result, Highway 200 from Bucerias to Sayulita, as well as the alternate route around Punta de Mita and on to Sayulita, are closed. North-south traffic from these points is stopped until further notice. Officials estimate that roads will be open in time for next week's Bicentennial celebrations.
Heavy rains in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay continue to cause flood damage. Streets, homes and businesses are reportedly flooded after six to ten inches of rain fell in a seven hour period on Saturday.
As a result of the continued rains in Riviera Nayarit, the San Pancho Bridge washed away. Witnesses say that the flow of water swept several Huanacaxtle trees towards the bridge on Saturday night. The bridge finally caved in after sustaining enormous pressure from the water and debris that continually pushed against it.
at the scene on Sunday morning, Bahía de Banderas Mayor Hector Paniagua explained that they will attempt to build a pedestrian bridge as soon as possible to re-establish communication with San Pancho. People were urged to stay clam and to stay away from the edge of the river due to concerns of more land slides.
Gerardo Navarrete from Riviera Tours commented that people getting in to San Pancho hotels or leaving to catch their flights were taking pangas or water taxis from San Pancho to Sayulita and vice-versa. He also explained that the road from Sayulita to Punta de Mita had been affected by land slides and that crews there were trying to open the road for larger vehicles to cross.
Landslides are causing traffic problems from as far north as Mesillas to as far South as Mismaloya. Critical points on HWY 200 are Mismaloya, Garza Blanca, Nogalito, and Sayulita. Traffic from Sayulita to Puerto Vallarta is being diverted through Punta de Mita due to a large land slide that covered both sides of the road on Sunday.
Bahía de Banderas Mayor Hector Paniagua commented that the water washed away at the foundations of the highway and that it will require major repairs. No time line is available as of now. Until the road is repaired, all traffic will have to divert to Punta de Mita to cross this area.
Life continues in San Pancho today as authorities and crews managed to set up a pedestrian bridge to grant access to people in and out of San Pancho. Vehicles will not be able to leave or enter San Pancho until the bridge is repaired. No time line for vehicular access has been issued.
Source: PVPulse.com
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