Libertador General San Martín Bridge celebrates 50 years

The Libertador General San Martín International Bridge marks its 50th anniversary of inauguration, serving as a vital land connection between Fray Bentos, Uruguay, and Puerto Unzué, Argentina.

The project's origins date back to November 1960, when the governments of Uruguay and Argentina established the Joint Technical Commission for the Bridge between Argentina and Uruguay (COMPAU) to conduct technical studies. Following these studies, a construction agreement was signed in Buenos Aires on May 30, 1967, and later ratified in Montevideo. The agreement stipulated that the bridge would be the common and indivisible property of both nations, with each country managing construction within its own jurisdiction.

Financing for the project included resources from both nations and loans from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The construction contract was awarded to the COPUI International Bridge Consortium in August 1972. The total length of the infrastructure is 5,966 meters, consisting of 4,220 meters in Argentine jurisdiction and 1,146 meters in Uruguayan jurisdiction. The structure is built of prestressed reinforced concrete and features a roadway width of 8.30 meters with two 1.50-meter sidewalks.