Laguna Garzón Bridge, Circular bridge in Rocha Department, Uruguay.

The Laguna Garzón Bridge connects the Maldonado and Rocha departments in southeastern Uruguay with two semicircular lanes that cross over the lagoon of the same name. The construction of steel and concrete stretches about 202 meters (660 feet) and includes separate areas for pedestrians and cyclists on both sides of the roadway.

Construction began in September 2014 and the bridge opened in December 2015, replacing a small two-vehicle ferry that needed daylight and good weather to cross the Laguna Garzón. The project cost $11 million, of which $10 million came from Argentine developer Eduardo Costantini. Rafael Viñoly Architects accepted the commission on condition that development rights along Uruguay National Route 10 pass to local jurisdictions.

Rafael Viñoly's office accepted the commission on condition that development rights along Uruguay National Route 10 be transferred to local jurisdictions, which the architects considered more environmentally conscious. The circular layout splits traffic into separate narrow lanes, and pedestrian crosswalks lead to sidewalks on both the inner and outer edge of the ring.

Traffic runs one way around the circle, and pedestrian crosswalks at the junctions lead to sidewalks on both the inner and outer edge of the ring. The curve keeps speeds low, so drivers and walkers share the crossing over the lagoon. The bridge carries pedestrians as well as vehicles, with capacity for roughly 1,000 vehicles a day.

The construction required 450 tons of steel and 500 cubic meters (17650 cubic feet) of concrete to form the circular roadway that works without additional traffic signs. The form forces vehicles to slow down naturally and gives drivers the chance to notice the wildlife and plant life of the lagoon.