Rio–Niterói Bridge, Road bridge in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Rio-Niterói Bridge stretches 13.3 kilometers (8.2 miles) across Guanabara Bay and reaches a height of 72 meters (236 feet) above the water. The concrete structure carries multiple traffic lanes over its entire length, with a central span of 300 meters (984 feet).
Construction began in January 1969 using modular components manufactured in England and shipped to Brazil. The project was completed after several years of intensive work, transforming the connection between Rio de Janeiro and Niterói.
The official name honors the Brazilian president who authorized its construction during the military period. Drivers experience the crossing as a direct connection between two major cities, cutting through the bay instead of circling around its shores.
The toll crossing serves more than 150,000 daily passengers and reduces the former 120-kilometer (74.5-mile) journey between the two cities to a direct route. Drivers should plan for peak traffic hours, as the route becomes especially busy during morning and evening commutes.
Until 1985, this crossing ranked as the second-longest bridge worldwide, surpassed only by Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in the United States. The modular construction system from England allowed for remarkably fast on-site assembly despite the enormous length.
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