POWERCHINA-built bridge in Bolivia opens to traffic

The Surutú Bridge, built and donated by POWERCHINA in Bolivia's Santa Cruz province, opened to traffic on May 12, local time.

Bolivia's Interior Minister Carlos Romero Bonifaz, Mayor of San Carlos Marco Añez, representatives of local trade unions, representatives of the Montero-Yapacaní highway project and many local residents attended the opening ceremony.

All parties expressed their full affirmation of and deep gratitude to POWERCHINA for donating the bridge and actively fulfilling social responsibility.

The 132-meter-long bridge spans the two sides of the Surutú River in the province of Santa Cruz in eastern Bolivia, which has a tropical steppe climate with abundant rainfall and a long rainy season.

The water level of the Surutú River is greatly affected by rainfall and its stream channel is extremely unstable. Because there were no bridge facilities nearby residents on both sides of the river had to wade across it. Tipping over of trucks into the river was not uncommon, especially during the rainy season.

When constructing the Montero-Yapacaní highway, POWERCHINA built the steel bridge during the short dry season using equipment and supplies of the highway project and beret pieces imported from China.

The completion of the Surutú Bridge has solved a travel problem for more than 600 local residents. It not only connects the two banks of the river but also connects Chinese and Bolivian people.