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Centennial crossing in Vale do Taquari resumed operation after flood, with new metallic span, wooden base, and mobilization of local companies. Reconstruction drew attention for the reduced timeframe, the million-dollar cost, and the symbolic value of the connection between Lajeado and Arroio do Meio.
The Iron Bridge, a historic crossing between Lajeado and Arroio do Meio in Vale do Taquari, reconnected the two municipalities in June 2024, after the installation of a new metallic span over the Forqueta River.
Before the emergency reconstruction, part of the structure had been swept away by the May flood, during the climate catastrophe that hit Rio Grande do Sul and affected mobility in different parts of the region.
The new span was placed on Friday afternoon (07), in an operation completed at 14:42, according to Grupo A Hora, which followed the stage of installing the structure over the river.
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Even with the metallic structure fitting completed, the release of traffic still depended on the wooden base, load tests, and authorization from the authorities responsible for the crossing’s safety.
With an estimated cost of R$ 2 million, the reconstruction was carried out by Lyall Construtora in partnership with companies like Altari, Tintas Nobre, Guinchos Sansão, and Sulmeta, in addition to support from the Lajeado government.
Although the initial forecast mentioned in local coverage was 30 days, the work advanced in about two weeks, between the mobilization of teams and the installation of the new metallic span.
Historic bridge reconnected Lajeado and Arroio do Meio
Over the Forqueta River, the Iron Bridge marks the connection between Arroio do Meio and Lajeado, in an area close to the confluence of the Taquari and Forqueta rivers in Vale do Taquari.
For decades, the crossing was part of the daily routine of residents, workers, and merchants, functioning as a daily transit axis between the two banks and as an urban reference for the involved municipalities.
With the force of the May 2024 flood, the destruction of part of the structure interrupted the passage and increased disruptions in a region that relied on strategic crossings for circulation.
The interruption did not only affect local traffic, as the bridge was also used for movements related to services, commerce, family commitments, and other routines between Lajeado and Arroio do Meio.
To restore a basic connection to the region affected by the floods, the emergency work adopted a quicker solution than conventional reconstruction, without abandoning the design associated with the historic crossing.
In this process, the intervention involved metal fabrication, transportation of the modules, heavy lifting, and assembly of a base capable of allowing light vehicles to pass over the restored structure.
How the Reconstruction of the Iron Bridge Was Done
An essential part of the service occurred away from the crossing point, as the metal pieces were welded at Altari’s headquarters in Estrela before being transported to the banks of the Forqueta River.
After this stage, the modules arrived at the bridge site and were positioned next to the structure for lifting, carried out with specialized support from Sansão Cranes during the operation over the river.
The fitting of the new span required precision because the structure needed to be supported on the bases that remained standing after the flood, in an area still marked by the effects of the high water.
Although the lifting was the most visible stage of the reconstruction, the work still needed to transform the metal span into a usable passage, with an adequate surface and verification of safety conditions.
The completion of the crossing involved installing 42 tons of wood over the metal structure, material used to form the base over which vehicles would pass after the opening.
This detail showed that the intervention was not limited to replacing the iron span over the river but involved a complete emergency adaptation to restore the use of the bridge.
According to local coverage, the first crossing of the new Iron Bridge was scheduled for Sunday (09), the date on which the structure would be reopened after the installation of the metal span.
To organize circulation, the passage would have flow control with traffic lights, cameras, and traffic agents, as the operation of the bridge required care due to the limitations of the structure.
Crossing Preserves Local Memory and Meets Urgency
Inaugurated on July 16, 1939, the original bridge had its construction started in 1927 and was interrupted due to lack of resources in 1929, according to records from the Arroio do Meio City Hall.
The metal structure, coming from Germany, spanned decades as one of the landmarks of the local landscape and became one of the postcards associated with the municipality and the Taquari Valley.
Besides its road function, the Iron Bridge came to hold historical, touristic, and emotional value for residents of the region, which amplified the impact of the reconstruction after the damage caused by the flood.
According to the city hall, the location is also known for rappelling and pendulum activities, and it served as a setting for the film “The Famous and the Dead,” by Esmir Filho.
By maintaining the visual design associated with the crossing, the emergency reconstruction preserved part of the local memory while responding to an immediate demand for circulation between the two municipalities.
In local coverage, the solution was named “Reconstruction Bridge”, an expression linked to the context of recovery after the flood that hit the Taquari Valley in 2024.
Rapid construction occurred amid debate over new crossing
While the Iron Bridge was being restored, Lajeado was discussing road alternatives for the region, including a new structure intended for light and heavy vehicles at the same crossing point.
On June 4, 2024, Grupo A Hora reported that there was controversy over the work tendered by the municipal government because the proposal could replace the iron and wood structure.
The company Medabil, from Nova Bassano, had been announced as the winner of the bid on May 31, according to the same coverage, which intensified the debate about the future of the historic bridge.
Among residents and local entities, the possibility of replacement provoked reactions because it involved a structure associated with regional memory, as well as an important road link for the daily life of the two cities.
In practice, the emergency solution responded to an immediate demand, while the discussion about a definitive crossing remained open and still depended on decisions about mobility and heritage preservation.
In August 2024, the Brazilian Army also assembled an alternative metal bridge between Lajeado and Arroio do Meio, with capacity for heavy loads, after seven days of work in the launch phase.
The Iron Bridge resumed two functions at the same time: reestablishing an important passage in the Taquari Valley and preserving a landmark of the local landscape after the destruction caused by the flood.
Without eliminating the need for definitive solutions, the emergency reconstruction restored mobility at a time of strong pressure on regional infrastructure and kept alive a crossing linked to local history.
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