Authorities in Bogotá have dismantled an improvised dwelling that a homeless man had built underneath a pedestrian bridge in the city’s northern Usaquén district, at the intersection of Calle 170 and Carrera 15.
According to the city’s Secretariat of Security, Coexistence and Justice, the overpass — meant to let pedestrians cross safely above traffic — had gradually stopped serving that purpose. Over time, the man had turned the space into a kind of informal apartment, filling it with mattresses, furniture, clothing, household items and accumulated trash that spread further into the walkway with each passing month.
Officials say the buildup had effectively blocked the structure’s intended use, forcing pedestrians to find other routes. During the cleanup operation, crews removed roughly six tons (about 13,200 pounds) of waste and belongings from the site.
Once the debris was cleared, the Bogotá city government restored some 200 square meters (about 2,150 square feet) of public space, reopening it for pedestrian traffic. The intervention is part of broader efforts by local authorities to recover public spaces across the capital that have been informally occupied.
To see the original video and photos from the operation, check out the full report on El Tiempo’s website.
Source: Video | Lo que había en el 'apartamento' de un habitante de calle debajo de un puente en el norte de Bogotá (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Infrogmation.