Puente Metálico João Luis Ferreira, Railway bridge in Teresina, Brazil.
The João Luis Ferreira bridge is a steel structure crossing the Parnaíba River and linking Teresina in Piaui with Timon in Maranhão. It carries both road traffic and rail lines including the metro system across a span of approximately 450 meters.
The structure was designed following German engineering plans and completed in 1939 after nearly two decades of construction. Its completion created the first permanent iron crossing over the river.
The steel structure represents a pivotal moment when engineering transformed how people traveled between states. The bridge's design shows the transition from boat-based crossing to mechanized transport infrastructure.
Crossing by car, bus, or rail is heavily used during daytime, especially in peak hours. It helps to be flexible with timing and prepared for congestion if you plan to stop or take photographs.
Before this crossing was built, dugout canoes were the only way to travel between the two city centers. The structure made possible the first fast and regular connection independent of water conditions.
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