Million-dollar car bridge in Brazil will retire a ferry used for over 60 years connecting two cities with a R$ 45 million project, 1,702 meters long over the Chopim River in Paraná.

Written by Alisson Ficher

Published on 15/05/2026 at 14:09

Updated on 15/05/2026 at 14:10

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Structure of R$ 45 million over the Chopim River will replace the historic ferry crossing between Verê and São Jorge d’Oeste, creating a permanent road connection in the Southwest of Paraná and altering the routine of residents, rural producers, drivers, and economic activities in the region.

After more than six decades of dependence on a ferry over the Chopim River, residents of Verê and São Jorge d’Oeste, in the Southwest of Paraná, are expected to gain a definitive road connection with the construction of a bridge valued at R$ 45 million.

The agreement to enable the work was signed by Governor Carlos Massa Ratinho Junior on May 14, 2026, during an agenda held in Verê, while the Government of Paraná confirmed that the funds will be released by the Secretariat of Infrastructure and Logistics.

Bridge over the Chopim River enters the bidding phase

Now, the project enters the bidding phase, a stage that will be the responsibility of the municipalities of Verê and São Jorge d’Oeste, while the state transfer will be made gradually as the winning company is contracted and the physical progress of the construction advances.

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Ferry crossing will be ended after more than six decades

For more than 60 years, the ferry crossing has been part of the routine of residents, rural producers, workers, and drivers who need to travel daily between Verê and São Jorge d’Oeste, a situation that turned the absence of a bridge into a historic demand of the region.

Currently, those who choose not to use the ferry have to resort to detours on highways that pass through cities like Francisco Beltrão and Dois Vizinhos, which increases travel time and generates extra costs for activities that depend on frequent circulation.

With the new structure, the crossing will no longer depend on river operations, eliminating waits for boarding, capacity restrictions, and limitations caused by the ferry’s operation throughout the day.

Change is expected to alter the routine of residents and workers

Besides altering regional logistics, the change is expected to directly affect rural communities, students, workers, and families who maintain ties between the two sides of the Chopim River, where ferry crossing has spanned generations and become part of the local routine.

A resident of Verê for 61 years, the 80-year-old retiree Osmar Esser told the State News Agency that he has always depended on the ferry to visit relatives in São Jorge d’Oeste, a municipality located approximately 15 kilometers from his home.

R$ 45 million bridge in Paraná will replace historic ferry over the Chopim River and connect Verê to São Jorge d’Oeste. (Simulation of the new bridge project. Photo: Secom)

There should also be an impact on travel related to health, work, study, and access to public services, as smaller municipalities tend to feel more intensely the changes that reduce barriers between nearby urban and rural areas.

Regional economy and tourism are expected to gain new momentum

According to the Government of Paraná, the new connection is expected to strengthen sectors related to agribusiness, commerce, and regional tourism, areas that depend on the constant flow of vehicles between rural communities and nearby municipalities.

Dairy sector entrepreneur in Verê, Vanio Allen stated to the State News Agency that the bridge represents an important project for the entire Southwest of Paraná, especially for its potential to increase the circulation of people and stimulate local commerce.

Among the attractions mentioned by the state government is Águas do Verê, considered one of the main tourist spots in the municipality, whose visitation is likely to be facilitated with the creation of a permanent road connection over the Chopim River.

Investments in the interior exceed R$ 55.9 million

In addition to the construction over the Chopim River, the Government of Paraná announced more than R$ 55.9 million in investments destined for Verê and São Jorge d’Oeste, including paving works, improvements in public areas, and the acquisition of machinery for municipal services.

Among the planned interventions in Verê is the paving of the Vicinal do Turismo Road, a route that connects rural properties to the Águas do Verê complex and is expected to receive an estimated investment of R$ 10.9 million.

R$ 45 million bridge in Paraná will replace historic ferry over the Chopim River and connect Verê to São Jorge d’Oeste. Photo: Geraldo Bubniak/AEN

In São Jorge d’Oeste, the package includes paving one kilometer between the São José and Veronese lines, as well as purchasing trucks, a motor grader, a loader, and an excavator to enhance activities within the municipality.

New road connection changes the scenario in Southwest Paraná

Part of a state package for logistical modernization, the bridge over the Chopim River is part of the Paraná Government’s strategy to replace old crossings and reduce bottlenecks that still affect circulation between interior municipalities.

Even without the scale of large metropolitan structures, the project gained regional relevance by solving a connection that remained dependent on a ferry for over half a century, affecting the daily flow of residents, producers, and transporters.

With the future definitive integration between Verê and São Jorge d’Oeste, the trend is for local routes to be reorganized and for movement between the two banks to occur continuously through the regional road network.

Million-dollar car bridge in Brazil will retire a ferry used for over 60 years connecting two cities with a R$ 45 million project, 1,702 meters long over the Chopim River in Paraná.

Structure of R$ 45 million over the Chopim River will replace the historic ferry crossing between Verê and São Jorge d’Oeste, creating a permanent road connection in the Southwest of Paraná and altering the routine of residents, rural producers, drivers, and economic activities in the region.

Bridge over the Chopim River enters the bidding phase

Ferry crossing will be ended after more than six decades

Change is expected to alter the routine of residents and workers

Regional economy and tourism are expected to gain new momentum

Investments in the interior exceed R$ 55.9 million

New road connection changes the scenario in Southwest Paraná

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Million-dollar car bridge in Brazil will retire a ferry used for over 60 years connecting two cities with a R$ 45 million project, 1,702 meters long over the Chopim River in Paraná.

Structure of R$ 45 million over the Chopim River will replace the historic ferry crossing between Verê and São Jorge d’Oeste, creating a permanent road connection in the Southwest of Paraná and altering the routine of residents, rural producers, drivers, and economic activities in the region.

Bridge over the Chopim River enters the bidding phase

Ferry crossing will be ended after more than six decades

Change is expected to alter the routine of residents and workers

Regional economy and tourism are expected to gain new momentum

Investments in the interior exceed R$ 55.9 million

New road connection changes the scenario in Southwest Paraná

A Chinese factory in Guangdong is assembling a humanoid robot every 30 minutes while Tesla, Figure, and Boston Dynamics still struggle to deliver 10 thousand per year.

Seven world powers including the US, China, and Russia are spending €22 billion on a reactor in the south of France that aims to confine plasma at 150 million degrees Celsius, ten times the temperature of the Sun’s core, using a magnetic field capable of lifting an entire aircraft carrier.

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With a wingspan of 152 meters, 76 tires, and a capacity to carry 1,270 tons, the Boeing Pelican was the giant “flying ship” that promised to cross oceans close to the water on an invisible air cushion beneath its wings.

A public school student single-handedly created a machine capable of treating water for up to 50 people using only solar energy. It was awarded third place at one of the most important science fairs in the world.

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