José Antonio Páez International Bridget, International road bridge in Arauca, Colombia and El Amparo, Venezuela

José Antonio Páez Bridge is a steel structure with a truss design that crosses the Arauca River, linking the Colombian city of Arauca to the Venezuelan town of El Amparo. The bridge uses a robust truss framework to span the river and form a physical crossing point at the international border.

Built between 1964 and 1967 as a joint project between the Colombian and Venezuelan presidents of that era, the bridge was constructed during a period when both countries sought to strengthen cross-border connections. The collaboration reflected efforts to improve infrastructure and regional ties.

The bridge is named after José Antonio Páez, a hero of Venezuela's independence war and three-time president of the country in the 19th century. It carries the main route for transporting oil and goods in the region, and its name is used on both sides of the border.

The bridge serves as a major transportation route for trucks, cars, and pedestrians crossing between Colombia and Venezuela. Visitors should expect longer waits during border control procedures and should follow the instructions of customs officials at all times.

The bridge was designed by Venezuelan civil engineer Gustavo Granados Ojeda, born in Rubio, Táchira, in 1926 and a graduate of the Universidad de Los Andes. It carries two lanes across 1,020 metres of length and 15 metres of width, with five reinforced concrete spans and two central steel piers. The Venezuelan end stands at about 80 metres above sea level, the Colombian end at about 70.