Ponte Presidente Dutra, Road bridge between Juazeiro and Petrolina, Brazil.

Ponte Presidente Dutra is a road bridge that crosses the São Francisco River and connects Juazeiro in Bahia to Petrolina in Pernambuco. The structure spans roughly 800 meters and carries several tens of thousands of vehicles daily.

The structure was built in the 1950s and became the second prestressed concrete bridge in Brazil, designed by French engineer Eugéne Freyssinet. The structural calculations were performed in France, showing an important engineering partnership between nations.

The bridge links Petrolina and Juazeiro, which together form the largest urban agglomeration in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Its name honours Eurico Gaspar Dutra, president of Brazil when the crossing was planned and built in the 1950s. Around 40,000 vehicles use it daily.

The bridge carries about 40,000 vehicles a day over its 801-metre span, so crossings are slowest at rush hours. It links Petrolina and Juazeiro directly; the two towers rise above the deck at mid-span, visible from both banks.

The bridge was the second prestressed concrete bridge built in Brazil, using steel tensioning cables. Its construction was carried out by a consortium of the Brazilian firm Estacas Franki Ltda., of Belgian origin, and the French firm Entreprises Campenon Bernard. The tender for the work was held in May 1949.