How Did They Get Up There?

Where there's a will, there's a way. The main north-south road for Mexico City runs down the west side of the Valley of Mexico. It's a 12 lane road (3 lanes and 3 lateral lanes in each direction). Roadways in a mountainous area are more challenging as you can't simply use a grid pattern of nice and square streets and avenues. None the less, the city planning for all these people who live in this megacity was a little lacking and the traffic becomes increasingly congested as the years go by. Statistics say that 2,000 people move to Mexico City each day!

In anticipation of the 200th anniversary of Mexico's independence in 2010, a second level on this 12 lane road has been planned and they are beginning to build. This is also part of Mexico's economic stimulus plan - to upgrade and build new roads throughout Mexico. Deep holes are being dug in which to put the huge pillars that will support each section of upper deck roadway. Some pillars are in place and some sections of the upper deck have been put in place with some gigantic cranes! (Again, my slow draw with the camara caused me to miss a photo of the crane. Next time...) Most of the work is done between 10 pm and 6 am during the night with the use of flood lights. During the day, the boulevards where there used to be grass, trees, and flowers are now filled with cranes, rebar, and heavy equipment.

What really caught our attention in the midst of all this construction was the few upper deck sections of roadway that are in place. There are a few places where just one section is put up and in one area, four sections have been joined together. As we passed by among the slow traffic (we lost a lane for fencing barriers and materials), we saw GRAFFITTI on the brand new concrete sections, way up there. Of course the cranes are secured during the daytime when they are not being used which leaves us wondering, "How did they get up there?"