Joint engineering team assesses Panama’s Bridge of the Americas

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teams are assisting Panamanian authorities in assessing the Bridge of the Americas after a tanker explosion, part of a coordinated effort to ensure public safety and evaluate potential structural impacts in the surrounding area. Engineers arrived in Panama in under 60 hours to begin work alongside the Ministry of Public Works and other partners.

“April 6th the explosion occurred under the Bridge of the Americas in Panama, and the Army Corps of Engineers is here to assess the damage,” said Johnny Lee, Lead Structural Engineer, assigned to USACE, Mobile District. Engineering teams quickly began initial assessments, focusing on identifying visible damage and determining the bridge’s structural integrity. “The purpose of our assessment today is to support the Ministry of Public Works [of] Panama and to offer our expertise.”

The joint operation underscores close cooperation between the two countries, with specialists working side by side to share expertise, resources, and capabilities. “The USACE is able to respond quickly and help out our partner nations in any emergency,” said Lee. “With both our expertise and theirs we’re able to work hand-in-hand and solve the problem.”

Personnel are conducting detailed inspections to evaluate risks including heat exposure, stress to key components, and overall stability. “We just want to get our eyes on it and see the level of damage that may have been caused,” Lee said. “This type of assessment helps by lending our expertise in validating their concerns and validating their conclusion.”

Teams are employing specialized tools and engineering methods to gauge the bridge’s condition and guide next steps. Officials said the timeline for a full assessment will hinge on the extent of any damage found.

“It takes great collaboration and proven technical skillsets to assess structures for damage,” said Capt. Chad Perkins, Officer in Charge, assigned to the 322nd Forward Engineer Support Team-Alpha. “We provide technical assessment, visual inspections to detect internal or surface damage and tools to investigate the depth of the damage with measurable conditions.”

Following the assessment, engineers, the U.S. Embassy in Panama City, and partner agencies plan to reconvene with Panama’s Ministry of Public Works to discuss the path forward, using the findings compiled by the team. “It’s significant that we proceed correctly,” Perkins said. “Continuing to build partnership and commitment goes a long way.”

Officials emphasized that the collaboration aims to address immediate safety concerns while strengthening long-term cooperation and interoperability between the United States and Panama.