CAF to Fund Complementary Studies for Construction of New Argentina-Uruguay Bridge

With a view to fostering the comprehensive cross-border development of Argentina and Uruguay, CAF—development bank of Latin America—, will provide non-reimbursable funds for up to USD 950,000, from the Infrastructure Pre-investment Program Stage III, to conduct complementary studies related to the construction of the international bridge over the Uruguay River, Monte Caseros–Bella Unión, between Argentina and Uruguay.

During the signing ceremony, together with the president of the Administrative Commission of the Uruguay River (CARU), Mario Daniel Ayala and CARU vice president José Eduardo Lauritto, and with Argentina’s Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero and Uruguay’s Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Carolina Ache as honorable witnesses, CAF executive president Sergio Díaz-Granados, said: “Integration is the way, and that is why we are committed to building physical bridges like this and also intangible bridges to build consensus that help improve the quality of life of the people and boost regional competitiveness. With this cooperation, we will have a solid project that can become a reality in the short term.”

The specific objectives defined for this initiative include notably complementary studies for project implementation and the promotion of the comprehensive cross-border development of the area with complementary geotechnical and hydraulic studies, complementary environmental and social studies, and border development studies.

The new direct connection between Monte Caseros and Bella Unión will help reduce travel time for cargo transport and transport costs by slashing travel distance between the economic centers of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay by 180 to 280 km. Similarly, a better connection between these locations would also have positive impacts on different social and cultural elements in these places.