Christine M. Watterson.MaóThe four technical reports commissioned on the accident at the extension to the airport have reached a common conclusion: a design fault in parts of the metallic structure and excess weight on those parts caused a section of the new terminal´s roof to collapse.
Following a meeting held last week at the airport AENA´s Director of Infrastructure, Amparo Brea, rejected the idea that the use of substandard material had caused the collapse and stressed that it was the result of a fault in the building´s design and the subsequent overstressing on a part of the metallic structure. Brea explained that the financial costs arising as a result of the accident, reinforcing the roof and the delay in work are still under evaluation. He added that, in principle, there is an agreement whereby the constructor, a consortium formed by Sacyr and Constructora San José, will assume the cost and make up the time lost on the project.
According to an AENA representative, the temporary suspension on the project has been lifted and work will start again this week.
Last week´s meeting, which was attended by some 20 people including representatives of AENA, the shop stewards´ committee, management, the constructors and the outside companies contracted to investigate the accident, lasted approximately one hour, with no disagreement being voiced amongst the experts. Items relating to restarting the work were discussed, such as plans to clear the rubble, the examination and reinforcement of the roof and planning the outstanding work to guarantee that the project will be finished within the time limit set.
AENA has contracted a firm of engineers, Intemac, to oversee the recommencement of work by the constructors.
The collapse of the new terminal´s roof occurred on 14th September when part of the metallic structure of the roof under construction gave way. Three Portuguese workers received minor inujries in the accident.
