Authorities in Brazil’s southern state of Paraná have initiated a carefully phased opening of a significant new infrastructure project—a 1,300-meter bridge featuring the longest free span in Latin America at 470 meters. The structure, designed to alleviate chronic congestion on the critical Friendship Bridge, represents a major engineering achievement for the region.
The initial opening comes with notable restrictions following a safety assessment. Currently, only empty trucks are permitted to traverse the bridge in both directions during this preliminary phase. This cautious approach stems from concerns raised by both the National Department of Transport Infrastructure and the Federal Highway Police, who identified that certain roadworks connecting to the bridge remained incomplete and posed potential safety risks to all users if fully opened to traffic.
Financed primarily through resources from Itaipu Binacional—the massive hydroelectric plant renowned for generating clean, renewable energy—with supplementary funding from the Paraná state government, the project occupies municipal land. The bridge forms part of a broader 14.7-kilometer perimeter road section that state authorities had previously inspected and opened.
While immediately beneficial for empty truck transportation, the bridge’s full potential for relieving congestion will only be realized in 2027 when Paraguay completes its complementary perimeter road in Puerto Franco, enabling the seamless flow of loaded trucks between Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Franco. Beyond transportation efficiency, the infrastructure project aims to stimulate regional tourism, enhance commercial exchange, and foster greater integration between Brazil and Paraguay.