A key bridge link in Paraguay should be ready in 2023 – image © courtesy of Rosevite2000, Dreamstime.com
The completion date has been set for the important Heroes del Chaco bridge project in Paraguay. The country’s Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) in Paraguay says that the bridge will now be ready for traffic in April 2023. And the bridge project is now expected to cost US$136 million.
Once the bridge is open to traffic, it will relieve congestion on an existing bridge around 8km to the north. The bridge will provide a new connection between Paraguay’s capital Asunción and the town of Chaco'i.
Originally the 450m bridge was expected to cost $115 million. There were concerns over issues with the project, including the design, which led to an investigation being carried out. The bridge is being built by a consortium, with much of the funding also being supplied by the IADB.
There are other issues with the project and the deadline however. The MOPC is now short of the necessary funds to complete the work. More funding will have to be secured from banks to allow the completion of the project.
Improvement work will be carried out for the PY12 route linking Chaco'i with General Bruguez, which runs parallel with a stretch of Paraguay’s border with northern Argentina. The upgraded road will provide a better connection for the Heroes del Chaco bridge, as well as improving transport between .
