Puente Pío Nono, Bridge in Providencia district, Chile.
Puente Pío Nono spans the Mapocho River, linking Avenida Vicuña Mackenna to the south with the Bellavista neighborhood and surrounding streets to the north. The crossing features a straightforward design that carries vehicle traffic and pedestrians across the water in one of Santiago's main traffic corridors.
An earlier metal bridge from 1892 stood at this location until 1984, when the current structure was built and the original was relocated 100 meters west to become Puente Vicente Huidobro. This replacement was part of Santiago's broader efforts to modernize its river crossings and traffic flow during the 1980s.
The bridge connects two districts that form a vibrant cultural hub, with the northern side home to galleries, studios, and artistic spaces that shape the area's character. It serves as a physical link between these creative communities on either bank of the river.
The crossing is most congested during rush hours, so walking or crossing at quieter times offers a calmer experience along the pedestrian paths. It is primarily a throughway rather than a destination for lingering, so plan accordingly if you want to cross without heavy traffic around you.
Since 2018, this crossing has been incorporated into the Santiago Street Circuit and serves as part of the track for the annual Formula E race, the Santiago ePrix. Most visitors do not realize that the normal traffic route they cross occasionally transforms into a professional motorsport venue.
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