Major Bridge in Puerto Vallarta Collapses

**Update: The southbound bridge connecting Puerto Vallarta and Riviera has been reopened for travel in both directions. People are being asked to avoid the bridge as much as possible to keep traffic jams to a minimum.**

A bridge linking Puerto Vallarta and its northern neighboring state of Nayarit collapsed last night, severely impacting ground transportation into and out of the Mexican resort town. Reports say two occupants of a taxi were rescued from the Ameca River, which flows under the bridge, and so far there’s no indication of additional injuries or any deaths. Some eyewitnesses said another car was on the bridge when it collapsed, but so far there’s no sign of it.

For travelers to the region, the bridge collapse presents a significant problem. According to the Latin American Herald Tribune, those heading southbound from Nayarit “will have to detour through relatively nearby Costa Alegre, but that route—sources say—will take eight hours to traverse.”

Puerto Vallarta’s airport is located on the Puerto Vallarta side of the river, so tourists flying in with no plans to leave the city should be OK. Nevertheless, several airlines have waived change fees for flights into the city for the next few days:

Alaska
American
Continental
US Airways

No word yet on how long the connection between Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit will be lost, but this is definitely something to keep an eye on if you’re planning a trip there in the near term.