Puente Caucau, Bascule bridge in Valdivia, Chile

The Puente Caucau crosses the Caucau River between Isla Teja and Las Animas in Valdivia. It is a bascule bridge with two movable steel decks, each 35 metres long, and a 54-metre control tower. The deck is supported by a steel truss and concrete piers, with a coral-coloured railing along the edge.

Work started in 2011 as part of a national infrastructure program marking the country's bicentennial anniversary. Technical problems delayed completion for over a decade, with the bridge finally opening to traffic in 2024.

The bridge's name comes from the Caucau River it crosses, linking Isla Teja with the Las Ánimas district. After the Discovery Channel documentary aired in 2015, river tourism to see the bridge rose 16.6%, according to the Agrupación de Turismo Fluvial.

The crossing is open to pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, with each group using separate lanes on the deck. Visitors can watch the lifting mechanism and river views from the walkways when the movable sections are raised.

Installation errors in the lifting system caused disputes between government agencies and contractors during construction. The incorrectly fitted components had to be partially dismantled and corrected before regular operation could begin.