Viaduto do Exército

Viaduto do Exército is a railway viaduct in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and crosses a wide valley on massive concrete pillars. The deck sits high above the valley floor and follows a long straight course between wooded slopes.

The Brazilian Army began construction in 1975 and completed the viaduct three years later under President Ernesto Geisel. The opening enabled a direct railway connection through the mountains of southern Brazil.

The structure belongs to the Wheat Railway and links two municipalities through a system of tunnels and additional crossings. This section remains important for freight transport and shows the long tradition of rail haulage in the region.

The bridge remains in operation and trains pass over it regularly as part of freight services. Visitors can best view it from lookout points along nearby roads, as access to the track itself is not permitted.

This viaduct is the tallest railway structure in Latin America and spans the valley at a height that surpasses many skyscrapers. The pillars have concrete walls nearly one meter thick and extend deep into the rocky subsoil.