Alves Lima bridge, Bicycle bridge in Ribeirão Claro, Brazil.
Alves Lima bridge is a suspension bridge over the Rio Paranapanema between Ribeirão Claro, in Paraná, and Chavantes, in São Paulo. Its deck and sides are clad in wood, the only Brazilian suspension bridge so built, and its design resembles that of Florianópolis's Hercílio Luz bridge.
The structure received official recognition as a heritage site from the State of Paraná on November 13, 2001, under inventory number 140-II. This designation reflects its importance to the region and its place in local transportation history.
The bridge is named after Manoel Antônio Alves Lima, the Monte Claro coffee farm owner who funded its construction with the municipalities of Ribeirão Claro and Chavantes and delivered it in the early 1920s. It is the only suspension bridge in Brazil with a wooden deck and wooden side panels, a detail visible along the walkway.
The bridge links Ribeirão Claro, in Paraná, with Chavantes, in São Paulo, over the Rio Paranapanema. It was closed for repairs in 2006 and handed back to the local population in June 2011. A fire damaged part of the structure on the Paraná side in the early hours of 7 November 2020, so check access before crossing.
It is the only suspension bridge in Brazil with a wooden deck and wooden side panels. Its design resembles that of the Hercílio Luz bridge in Florianópolis. A fire on the Paraná side damaged part of the structure on 7 November 2020, shortly before its centenary.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,337 contributors worldwide.