Bridge in the South Zone of Manaus is the target of theft of iron parts and vandalism; residents demand more security

Bridge suffers from depredation in the South Zone of Manaus Disclosure The Benjamin Constant Bridge, located in the Cachoeirinha neighborhood, in the South Zone of Manaus, has suffered from depredation and theft of iron parts. One of the historical heritages of the capital of Amazonas, the structure worries residents of the region, who report insecurity, while experts warn of the impacts of the loss of the bridge's original elements. Built at the end of the 19th century, the metal bridge connects the center of the capital to the Cachoeirinha neighborhood. The metal structure is one of the symbols of the rubber cycle in the city. Currently, part of the bridge shows signs of deterioration, with iron parts being removed. For historian Otoni Mesquita, the removal of these elements compromises the preservation of the city's history. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp "Historical monuments store a little or a lot of information about our history. It is a very important element for our history, in addition to the preservation of heritage", says the historian.

Residents and workers in the region say that the lack of security makes it easier for people to remove parts of the structure. A resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, claims that policing is insufficient. "We ask for policing. If a police car could stop like this on every street corner, staying like that for a while, that would be very gratifying. If they hadn't put up the wall, I believe there wouldn't be any type of bridge iron left there", says the resident. According to the resident, the feeling of insecurity increases in the late afternoon, when the movement of people decreases. "At the end of the afternoon, it's very deserted here. There are so many people like that that it makes us fear for our safety", he laments. Historical heritage Otoni Mesquita believes that the preservation of the bridge depends not only on restoration works, but also on integrated actions in the areas of education, health and public safety. For him, the situation reflects social problems faced in the central region of Manaus. "The fundamental issue is always the same: educating the population. And today, we currently have these problems of chemical dependency, marginality, a series of things that would involve the Department of Health, Security and many others that would need to work together", explains Mesquita. The historian also states that the state of conservation of the Benjamin Constant Bridge reflects the situation of other spaces in the capital's Historic Center. "This is just an example of the city. This is a detail of the city that represents well what we are seeing happening with the city. So, it is necessary and urgent for there to be a joint relationship to try to resolve [the situation]", concludes the historian. g1 questioned the Municipal Institute of Urban Planning (Implurb), responsible for managing the bridge, whether the body is aware of acts of vandalism and theft at the site. It also requested information whether there are any recent or planned projects for the restoration of the structure and what inspection and preservation measures are adopted at the site. Until the last update of this report, there was no response. READ ALSO: Drought on the Madeira River reveals a 19th century ship that sank in the Amazon; VIDEO Portuguese Crown Canyons are revealed due to severe drought in the interior of the Amazon Amazon River drought reveals archaeological site with pre-colonial remains; VIDEO Bridge is target of theft of iron structures Disclosure Benjamin Constant Bridge, on Avenida 7 de Setembro, in Manaus. Archive/IMMU

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