Government to grant bridges connecting Brazil to other countries: revolution in international connections! Model reduces time for cargo clearance at borders, and bidding for bridges is scheduled for December
The bridges that connect Brazil to other countries will be granted to the private sector, revolutionizing transportation and making life easier for those who cross borders. The project, considered innovative by the federal Executive, promises reduce bureaucracy and speed up cargo release, bringing significant efficiency gains.
The government will start, in December, a project to grant the private sector all 12 bridges that connect Brazil to other countries. The first stage will include six bridges, the first being International Integration Bridge, which connects Sao Borja, in Rio Grande do Sul, the Saint tome, in Argentine. The notice will be released this month, and the auction is scheduled for December. Whoever offers the lowest toll will win the contest.
Negotiations in Mercosur on bridges
The negotiations also involve the granting of put on de Uruguayan, which connects Brazil to Argentina, and Friendship BridgeInter Foz do Iguacu e Ciudad del Este, in Paraguay. These concessions are expected to occur in the second half of 2025. These bridges are considered strategic, since Uruguaiana's is responsible for 37% of land trade between Brazil and Argentina e 30% with Chile.
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The Sรฃo Borja bridge was chosen as a model to be replicated for the others. It is the only one operated by the private sector since 1996, when it was granted for 25 years, and the contract has been extended in recent years. According to the Ministry of Transport, Sรฃo Borja is the bridge that is in the best structural condition and has the shortest waiting time for customs clearance, because the service is unified between the two countries.
Investments and improvements
The investment in the work is estimated at 45,6 million U.S. $. The concession includes design, construction, conservation, operation and exploitation of the international road link. The works must also include improvements in road access to the structure on both sides of the bridge. The ministry expects that, with the new concession of the Sรฃo Borja bridge, the toll price will fall by 18%.
Toll in dollars
With 1,4 meters above the Uruguay River e 14 kilometers of access, the asset has attracted the interest of foreign and domestic investors. The short stretch does not require high investments, and the toll is charged in dollars, which provides security to operators.
Faster customs clearance
The government expects reduce customs clearance time from 24 hours to just four hours. According to the National Secretary of Road Transport, Viviane Esse, Faster, single-step customs clearance mainly benefits food transport, like the salmon that comes from Chile to Brazil.
Bottleneck in Foz do Iguaรงu
The government's plans also include the joint concession of Bridges of Friendship quality IntegrationInter Foz do Iguacu and Paraguay. The Integration Bridge was completed about two years ago, but has not yet been released. There are 760 meters of track, 120-meter-high support towers and the largest free span in Latin America. The release of this bridge is hindered by the delay in completing works on the border.
Economy and efficiency
With the concessions, the Ministry of Transport calculates savings in maintenance costs. R$ 1 billion over the 30 years of the contracts. In addition, the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) will be able to use saved resources to maintain other roads. Per year, there will be savings of around R$30 million โ enough to duplicate small sections of roads, resurface roads and expand access.
Challenges and bilateral agreements
The work involves the Ministries of Transport, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, as well as representatives from the Tax Authorities and the Federal Police. The progress also involves bilateral agreementsAs Any intervention in these sections is a complicated process because both parties need to be in agreement.
List of bridges to be tendered
International Integration Bridge (BR-285): It connects Sao Borja (RS) to Santo Tomรฉ (Argentina).
Uruguaiana International Bridge (BR-290): Liga Uruguaiana (RS) to Paso de los Libres (Argentina).
Franco-Brazilian Binational Bridge (BR-156): Over the Oiapoque River, it connects Oiapoque (AP) to Sรฃo Jorge do Oiapoque (French Guiana).
Friendship Bridge (BR-277): It connects Foz do Iguaรงu (PR) to Ciudad del Este (Paraguay).
Tancredo Neves Bridge (BR-469): It connects Foz do Iguaรงu (PR) to Puerto Iguazรบ (Argentina).
Baron of Maua (BR-116): Over the Jaguarรฃo River, it connects Jaguarรฃo (RS) to Rio Branco (Uruguay).
Integration Bridge (BR-277): It connects Foz do Iguaรงu (PR) to Presidente Franco (Paraguay).
Bridges to be built and operated by the private sector:
Bridge over the Mamorรฉ River (BR-425): It connects Guajarรก-Mirim (RO) to Guayaramerin (Bolivia).
Bridge in Porto Xavier over the Uruguay River: Connects Porto Xavier (RS) to San Javier (Argentina).
Jaguarรฃo Bridge (BR-116): It connects Jaguarรฃo (RS) to Rio Branco (Uruguay).
Bridges under construction by the Brazilian government for future concession:
Assis Brasil Bridge (BR-317): It connects Iรฑapari (Peru) to Assis Brasil (AC).
Porto Murtinho Bridge (BR-267): On the Paraguay River, between Porto Murtinho (MS) and Carmelo Peralta (Paraguay).
structural challenges
Secretary Viviane Esse mentioned that current contracts have โpicturesqueโ clauses: for example, one country maintains half of the bridge and the other maintains the rest. If one does not have the resources or staff to carry out the intervention, the service cannot be performed.. This is what happened with the Uruguaiana bridge, where the delay in closing an agreement with Argentina led to traffic restrictions on the stretch because a pillar of the bridge on the Brazilian side was damaged.
According to the executive secretary of the Ministry of Transport, George Santoro, the government opted for bridge concessions to reduce bureaucracy and bring benefits to both sides. โWith the concessions, we will reduce bureaucracy, gain efficiency and, consequently, trade relations with neighboring countries will increaseโ, said Viviane.
And do you believe that granting these bridges will really improve trade and reduce bureaucracy at the borders? Leave your opinion in the comments!