LatAm’s Longest Overwater Bridge Project in Brazil Faces Hurdles

Brazil is building the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge, which will be Latin America’s longest overwater bridge at 12.4 kilometers.

It will connect Salvador, Bahia’s capital, to Itaparica Island, replacing a ferry system that has run since 1970 but often causes long delays. Without the ferry, travelers face a 150-kilometer detour around the bay.

Chinese state-owned companies are leading the project, which now costs about R$6.9 ($1.3) billion after contract changes. The government is funding R$3.7 billion upfront and will pay another R$5.1 billion over 29 years, totaling roughly R$8.8 billion in public spending.

Construction should take six years, starting in early 2026 and finishing by 2029. The plan includes an 18-kilometer highway across Itaparica Island.

This road will cut through protected forests, mangroves, and wetlands, raising serious concerns among local fishing families, Quilombola communities, and indigenous Tupinambá people.

Many say officials have not shared enough information, and some residents feel pressured to sell their land. Environmental studies used to approve the project rely on data from 2013 and 2014.

The Bahia state prosecutor’s office has criticized these studies as outdated and incomplete, warning they may not reflect current environmental risks.

Despite this, authorities have approved the studies and plan to use them to guide impact mitigation.

The bridge is expected to carry 28,000 vehicles daily and benefit about 10 million people in 250 municipalities.

It aims to improve transport links and connect to major highways, boosting the regional economy.

https://www.riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/1-8-billion-bridge-project-unites-brazilian-cities/

The project should also create around 7,000 jobs and includes training programs for local workers. The bridge promises economic growth and better connectivity.

However, it also highlights the challenge of balancing development with protecting communities and nature.

The high public cost and long-term payments raise questions about who will truly benefit.

This project is more than just a bridge. It tests Brazil’s ability to modernize infrastructure while respecting people and the environment.

Its success or failure will shape future infrastructure efforts across the country.