Uruguay to rehabilitate Río Negro railway bridge for northern freight connectivity

Uruguay has initiated a strategic project to rehabilitate the historic railway bridge over the Río Negro, aimed at restoring rail connectivity between Montevideo and the northern region, specifically toward Rivera. The agreement, signed between the Corporación Ferroviaria del Uruguay (CFU) and the Corporación Nacional para el Desarrollo, involves an investment of approximately US$ 1.3 to 1.8 million.

The project, expected to take about ten months, includes the replacement of roughly 1,300 sleepers and new rails, as well as structural maintenance of the approximately 750-770 meter bridge. This infrastructure, originally in use since 1887, is considered a vital link for the national railway network.

This rehabilitation is intended to complement the development of the Rivera Dry Port (Terminal Multimodal Interior Puerto Seco Rivera), which serves as a land extension of the Port of Montevideo. By linking the Ferrocarril Central with the line to Rivera, the corridor aims to facilitate the movement of cargo and production from northern Uruguay to southern ports and potentially toward the Brazilian border.