Carmelo Bridge, Cultural heritage bridge in Colonia Department, Uruguay

Carmelo Bridge is an 88-metre iron cantilever swing bridge over the Arroyo de las Vacas, near Carmelo. Its central span pivots on a stone masonry support, turned by a human-powered mechanism to open a passage for boats. It was manufactured in Germany by MAN and assembled in Uruguay under engineers Juan T. Smith and Eduardo Chiappori.

The bridge was manufactured in Germany by MAN and assembled in Uruguay under engineers Juan T. Smith and Eduardo Chiappori. It was inaugurated on 1 May 1912, with national authorities arriving aboard the steamer Oyarvide. In November 1951 a storm drove boats against it, damaging the turning system; a pontoon bridge kept traffic moving until repairs ended in April 1952. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1994.

The bridge's human-powered turning mechanism is operated by hand, making it the only swing bridge of its kind in Uruguay. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1994, and its centenary in 2012 drew President José Mujica, Minister Enrique Pintado and Mayor Walter Zimmer. Three books published that year celebrate it, including Raúl Ronzoni's El alma de Carmelo.

The bridge carries the road over the Arroyo de las Vacas just outside Carmelo. Since 2018 it has been reserved for local and light traffic, with passing traffic meant for a new bypass bridge. The deck is shared by vehicles and pedestrians, and the 88 m iron structure is narrow, so cross with care.

The swing mechanism is turned by human power, making it the only bridge of its kind in Uruguay. It is considered the first swing bridge in South America, and its 160-tonne central span was pushed off its pivot by drifting boats in December 2018.