The authorities of Argentina and Uruguay of the Uruguay River Administrative Commission (CARU) signed this Tuesday (06.12.2022) an agreement to begin studies for the construction of an international bridge that will link the cities of Bella Unión (Artigas department) and Monte Caseros (Corrientes province), according to information provided by the Argentine Foreign Ministry.
This will be the fourth land connection point between the two countries, which will be added to the existing ones between Fray Bentos and Gualeguaychú; Paysandú and Colón; and Salto and Concordia.
To this end, the development will have a non-reimbursable contribution of 950.000 dollars from CAF. Thus, the initiative aims to promote comprehensive cross-border development from Argentina and Uruguay, and the funds granted come from the Infrastructure Pre-Investment Program Stage III.
The specific objectives defined for this initiative include carrying out complementary studies for the execution of the project and promoting comprehensive cross-border development of the area, geotechnical and hydraulic analysis, environmental and social studies, and border development studies.
The signing ceremony was attended by the president of the Uruguay River Administrative Commission (CARU), Mario Daniel Ayala, and the vice president of CARU, José Eduardo Lauritto, and the foreign minister of Argentina, Santiago Cafiero, and the undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Carolina Ache. Also present were the executive president of CAF, Sergio Díaz-Granados.
The objectives defined for this initiative include “the carrying out of complementary studies for the execution of the project and the promotion of comprehensive cross-border development of the area with complementary geotechnical and hydraulic studies; complementary environmental and social studies, and border development studies.”
According to the Argentine Foreign Ministry, The new direct connection between Monte Caseros and Bella Unión will allow for a reduction in freight travel time and transportation costs by reducing the journey distance between 180 and 280 kilometers between the economic centers of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
It would also facilitate better connections between these localities and have positive impacts on various social and cultural elements.
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