Due to the complete closure of traffic in both directions on the Bridge of the Americas, the Transit and Land Transport Authority (ATTT) implemented a contingency plan based on lane reversal on the Centenario Highway to maintain mobility between the city of Panama and West Panama. The National Police announced for Monday evening the reversal of four lanes towards the Burunga bridge in Arraiján for approximately one hour, aiming to alleviate vehicular congestion in that sector. Subsequently, authorities will maintain one lane in the direction from Arraiján to the city of Panama and three lanes towards West Panama, as part of a dynamic scheme that will be adjusted until vehicular flow is normalized. The director of the entity, Nicolás Brea, explained that the measure seeks to allow drivers stranded in the capital with destinations to the West to travel by temporarily enabling lanes in the opposite direction. Furthermore, for this Tuesday, April 7, a new operation is also planned, focused on facilitating entry to the capital from West Panama, by reversing three lanes on the Centenario highway exclusively in the direction of the city. This decision responds to recommendations from the Ministry of Public Works of Panama, which maintains evaluations on the structural safety of the Bridge of the Americas before authorizing its full reopening. This comes after a fire was recorded under the bridge that left one dead and two injured.
