Cartagena Mayor Dumek Turbay asked Findeter on November 3, 2026, for support to finish the Las Palmeras bridge over the Matute canal. During an inspection, he questioned the pace of construction and offered district funding to speed up the work, according to the Mayor’s Office.
Completion had been projected months earlier
The request followed a forecast reported on May 2: the bridge could be delivered in approximately four months. At that time, progress was reported at 63.82%. A district update published on June 11 put physical completion at 72%.
The November inspection showed that the earlier forecast had not been met. The request for help does not establish a new completion date or a funding allocation: Turbay expressed the district’s willingness to contribute and invited Findeter president María Paula Quejada to visit the project.
The mayor attributed the difficulties to the pace and quality of the contractor’s work. His criticisms represent the district administration’s position.
Transport links and management of the Matute canal
The project connects Las Palmeras and Las Palmeritas. It includes a structure 32 metres long and nine metres wide, with a roadway and sidewalks. It also includes five concrete box structures to channel the canal’s water.
The work is part of an agreement between the Ministry of Housing, through Findeter, and the district. Its resumption was reported in February, following a suspension during which the design was adjusted and discussions were held with the community.
According to the Mayor’s Office, recent rainfall required crews to open dikes, clear the waterway and remove water hyacinth to help water flow. The canal carries water from Turbaco toward the Ciénaga de la Virgen lagoon; its management affects nearby homes and community facilities, including a school, a cultural centre and a child development centre.
