en.Wedoany.com Reported - Mato Grosso state in Brazil is building its largest bridge, spanning the Juruena River with a total length of 1,410 meters. As of early 2026, construction progress has reached 66%. This bridge will connect the cities of Cotriguaçu and Novo Bandeirantes, replacing the current time-consuming ferry crossing.

The bridge has an investment of 293.9 million Brazilian reais and is being executed by the Mato Grosso state government through the State Secretariat of Infrastructure and Logistics (Secretaria de Estado de Infraestrutura e Logística, Sinfra-MT). Once completed, the project is expected to directly benefit over 70,000 residents in the region. Currently, approximately two-thirds of the main structure has been completed.

Upon completion, the 1,410-meter bridge will surpass the current longest bridge in the state—the MT-419 highway bridge between Carlinda and Novo Mundo (approximately 692 meters long). The bridge connects Cotriguaçu and Novo Bandeirantes directly via the MT-208 highway, passing through the Japuranã district. According to Sinfra-MT, all work fronts have been activated, and construction is progressing rapidly, advancing from approximately 60% in early 2026 to the current 66%.

Currently, crossing the Juruena River via the MT-208 highway relies on a ferry, with an average travel time of about one hour, including waiting in line, nighttime shutdowns, and safety risks during flood seasons. Once the bridge is completed, the same journey will be reduced to less than a minute, with 24-hour access unaffected by river conditions.

Local electrician Jonas Mendes stated that the new bridge will save residents time and ferry costs.

In addition to the main bridge, the contract signed by Sinfra-MT also includes paving approximately 59 kilometers of the MT-208 highway—over 34 kilometers on the Cotriguaçu side and 24 kilometers on the Novo Bandeirantes side—and constructing three small bridges along the route, with lengths of 25 meters, 30 meters, and 50 meters respectively. These works will transform the connecting road into a fully paved corridor. Once opened, vehicles will be able to travel on paved roads between Cotriguaçu, Novo Bandeirantes, and the Japuranã district, with access to cities such as Aripuanã, Colniza, as well as Guarantã do Norte and the BR-163 highway. This will effectively connect the northwest region with northern Mato Grosso, ending the current lack of ground transportation access.

The new bridge connects two major production areas. According to local leaders, these areas previously faced development constraints due to the lack of adequate transportation links. The new bridge is expected to reduce logistics costs and enhance the flow of agricultural products to export corridors. According to regional authorities, the project's anticipation alone has attracted investors, with trading companies arriving, new warehouses being planned, farmland areas expanding, and local land values significantly appreciating.

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