---
title: "Bridge of the Americas Cleared for Continued Traffic Under 10-Ton Limit"
date: 2026-04-14
modified: 2026-04-15
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/bridge-of-the-americas-10-ton-limit/
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Transport"
tags:
  - "Bridge of the Americas"
  - "MOP"
  - "Panama"
  - "Panama Canal Authority"
  - "road safety"
  - "structural inspection"
---

# Bridge of the Americas Cleared for Continued Traffic Under 10-Ton Limit

## What Happened

The Bridge of the Americas remains safe for vehicle traffic and will continue operating under the current 10-ton-per-vehicle limit, after a technical inspection found no immediate signs of failure or critical damage in the prioritized areas.

The assessment covered pillar 10, the bridge superstructure, and the roadway slab. Engineers also examined the areas affected by the fire recorded on Monday, April 6. The review was led by the Ministry of Public Works with support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

## Inspection Findings

Officials said the structure does not show visible distortion in the steel elements or reinforcement plates. Rivets and bolts were found intact and secure, although the exterior paint is peeling and isolated corrosion was similar to what appears in sections not affected by the fire.

On the roadway slab, a hammer sounding test was carried out and the affected areas were compared with sections that were not exposed to heat. The bridge did not show signs of immediate structural failure in the inspected zones.

## Next Steps For Maintenance

The evaluation recommends short-term scanning or radiography of pillar 10, followed by similar work on the remaining pillars in the medium term. In the steel superstructure, crews are expected to repaint the damaged areas, install extensometers in affected and unaffected zones for comparison, and obtain steel samples for laboratory testing.

For the roadway slab, the recommended work includes testing on the slab and the fiber-reinforced overlay in the short term, along with replacement of carbon fiber at a later stage. The concrete pillars will also undergo testing at multiple levels.

## Why It Matters

The Bridge of the Americas is one of Panama’s most important crossings, carrying thousands of users each day and serving as a key route between Panama City and the western side of the country. Keeping the 10-ton restriction in place preserves current traffic conditions while engineers continue detailed testing and maintenance planning.

Edwin Lewis, director of Study and Design at the Ministry of Public Works, and Deputy Director Karen Caballero presented the findings. Lewis said the results from Panamanian and U.S. teams were consistent and confirmed that the bridge’s movements, measured through topographic points, have remained very low and comparable to conditions before the incident.

The ministry also recalled that a joint evaluation with the Panama Canal Authority began in November to define the short-, medium-, and long-term interventions needed for the bridge.