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The Construction of the Bridge over the Jacuí River, Which Was Supposed to Facilitate the Lives of Thousands of Drivers Between Triunfo and São Jerônimo, Faces Yet Another Delay! Promised 60 Years Ago, the Project Remains on Paper, Leaving the Population Desperate. A New Postponement Puts the Completion of This Essential Project for the Region at Risk. Will It Ever Materialize?
The long-awaited construction of the bridge over the Jacuí River, which promises to make life easier for thousands of residents between Triunfo and São Jerônimo, in Rio Grande do Sul, has suffered another setback.
The National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit) announced a new delay in the preparation of the executive project, pushing the schedule for the work even further back.
As a result, the inhabitants of the region continue to rely exclusively on the crossing by barge, a method that, in addition to being time-consuming, can be interrupted during dry periods or heavy rains.
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The Postponement of the Project
Initially scheduled for completion in 2024, the executive project now has a new deadline: September 18, 2025.
The company responsible for the studies is Enecon, contracted for R$ 2.3 million to finalize this phase.
This planning includes everything from geological surveying of the area to the structural details of the future bridge.
In addition to the delay in the completion of the studies, the duration of the contract was also modified, being extended until February 2026.
In other words, even after the project is finalized, there will still be a long bureaucratic path before construction actually begins.
The new deadline for the project’s completion represents another chapter in a story of six decades of waiting.
Since the 1960s, residents in the area have witnessed promises about the bridge that have never materialized. With each new government, proposals emerge, but bureaucratic and financial obstacles prevent the project from moving forward.
Why Is the Bridge So Important?
The new bridge over the Jacuí River is not just a promise of infrastructure; it is an urgent necessity for thousands of drivers and residents who depend on daily barge crossings.
Currently, about a thousand vehicles cross the region daily, facing a journey that can take up to 15 minutes under normal conditions.
However, during periods of drought or heavy rains, crossing can be interrupted, causing inconveniences and losses.
Additionally, the absence of the bridge directly impacts the economic development of the region.
Transport and logistics companies face challenges in getting products to market, which affects sectors such as agriculture, commerce, and industry.
The travel time between neighboring cities could be significantly reduced with the new road connection, providing greater safety and efficiency in local traffic.
The lack of a direct connection also splits the BR-470 into two parts in the region, hampering traffic and the local economy.
With the construction of the bridge, this division will be eliminated, facilitating the movement of goods and reducing travel time for workers and students.
Defined Route Project, but No Date for Construction
Despite the delays, the feasibility study has defined the exact location where the bridge will be built. The new route plans to construct the structure further east than the current barge route.
In addition to the bridge, the paving of BR-470 will also be necessary to connect the new road to the rest of the federal highway.
The major obstacle, however, remains the lack of a forecast for the effective start of construction.
Without a defined date for construction, residents fear the project will continue to exist only on paper, as it has in the last 60 years.
Perspectives and Challenges
Although Dnit has reiterated that the construction of the bridge remains on the federal government’s agenda, bureaucracy and a lack of investment are increasing the public’s skepticism.
Many residents have already lost hope of seeing the work completed, especially in light of successive delays.
The issue of funding for the project is another critical point. For the bridge to be built, a robust investment will be necessary, which could exceed hundreds of millions of reais.
However, without a clear budget allocation, there is concern that the project will continue to be postponed indefinitely.
In the meantime, temporary alternatives are being discussed, such as expanding the fleet of barges or improving the operational conditions of current crossings.
However, such measures are temporary and do not solve the structural problem faced for decades.
One can only wonder: will this time the construction finally materialize, or will it remain an indefinitely postponed promise?
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