Puente carretero sobre el Río Claro
The Puente carretero sobre el Río Claro is a road bridge in Chile's Maule region that crosses the Río Claro river. Built in 1880, it features seven half-point arches made of brick and stone, measuring about 118 meters long and rising approximately 23 meters above the water.
The bridge was built in 1880 to support the railway connection between the cities of Curicó and Talca in the region. A major earthquake in 2010 caused severe damage to the structure, destroying several of its arches and leading to its eventual demolition.
The site is easily reached from Route 5 Sur near Molina, with straightforward orientation from the river's position nearby. The rural surroundings allow visitors to view the historical remains from the riverbank or nearby roadsides without obstacles.
The bridge was originally built to support a railway line rather than road traffic, demonstrating how its purpose changed after completion. Black-and-white photographs document its historical form before the earthquake and preserve its appearance for future generations.
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