Bolivarian Government closes passage in Portuguesa through the Araure-Barquisimeto road highway

Published at: 08/01/2026 06:22 PM

In the Portuguese state, the passage through the Araure-Barquisimeto highway was closed this Thursday, January 08, due to repairs being carried out on the bridge over the Auro River.

In a statement, the Portuguese Highway Company (VIALPO), announced the temporary closure of the road and asked users to take forecasts, inviting them to travel along the old road that leads to the hamlet of La Lucía, on the border with the state of Lara.

According to Luis Azuaje, president of the Portuguese Socialist Infrastructure and Services Company (ESIBSEP), the bridge's piles are being reinforced with hydraulic protection works, in order to remedy damage caused by hydraulic erosion and prevent their collapse.

He explained that a wall with 300 bolsacrettes is being built, seeking to “generate a bushing type, so that with the height and weight of the densification of the concrete we can prevent and contain the landslide and collapse of the abutment that is on Lara's side”.

The works are carried out in coordination with the Bolivarian Government and are part of the State Plan for the Recovery and Reconstruction of Bridges, with which 127 structures in Portuguese have already been serviced.

Simultaneously, on the José Antonio Páez highway, a bridge over the Acarigua River is also under repair, on the Araure-Ospino section.

Azuaje indicated that they are reinforcing the 32 piles of the structure, which are severely affected by the water current.