Bridge Name: | General Manuel Belgrano Bridge |
Carries: | National Route 16 |
Crosses: | Paraná River |
Locale: | Corrientes to Resistencia, |
Design: | cable-stayed bridge |
Begin: | 1968 |
Open: | May 10, 1973 |
Coordinates: | -27.4701°N -58.8602°W |
Preceded: | Yacyretá Dam |
Followed: | Uranga-Begnis Tunnel |
The General Manuel Belgrano Bridge (Spanish; Castilian: Puente General Manuel Belgrano) is a road bridge that joins the Argentine cities of Corrientes (capital of the Corrientes Province in the Mesopotamia) and Resistencia (capital of Chaco in the Chaco Region) over the course of the Paraná River (near the confluence with the Paraguay River). It was opened on May 10, 1973.
The bridge joins Corrientes' Provincial Route 12 with Chaco's Provincial Routes 11 and 16. The main part of the bridge measures 1700m (5,600feet) in length and stands at 35m (115feet) over the river, with cable-stayed section with spans 163.5m (536.4feet) + 245m (804feet) + 163.5m (536.4feet). It has two A-shaped main towers that are 83m (272feet) high. The road is 8.3m (27.2feet) wide and has two lanes, plus two lateral pedestrian ways, each 1.8m (05.9feet) wide.
In 1999 the province of Corrientes was in the midst of a popular uprising, with protestors asking for the resignation of the provincial government. On 1999-12-17 the traffic over the bridge was blocked by demonstrators. The Gendarmerie intervened to suppress the protest, and killed two people. As of 2006 the investigations about the responsibility for these killings are still in progress.