The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $700 million credit line for Argentina and a $345 million first individual loan under this facility that will finance a new 772-meter-long bridge linking the provinces of Chaco and Corrientes, as well as the infrastructure for accessing the bridge.

These two operations, which have been approved by the IDB's Board of Executive Directors, have the overall objective of better connecting the provinces by improving the level of service and resilience of the infrastructure linking National Routes 11 and 12. The project follows environmentally sustainable criteria.

Nearly 870,000 inhabitants in the program's direct area of influence will benefit from the bridge, and 88,000 people per day will use the new infrastructure. The operation will also serve 9,500,000 indirect beneficiaries, 51% of whom are women and 49% men.

The Northeastern region of Argentina is split by the Paraná River, so infrastructure that ties it together is essential for its socioeconomic development and integration. The two halves of this region are currently only connected by one road link—the General Manuel Belgrano Bridge between the cities of Resistencia and Corrientes. This bridge’s traffic capacity, weight restrictions and urban congestion severely limit its functionality, making it a bottleneck for urban connectivity and regional logistics.

To address these challenges, the program will finance a new four-lane interurban road located 9 km from the General Manuel Belgrano Bridge. This alternative route will include a 772-meter-long cable-stayed bridge over the Paraná River, 5.6 km of viaducts, and 28.2 km of highway built on embankments to access the bridge. The new road will connect National Routes 11 and 12.

The first individual loan will finance the first phase of building the new roadway, along with project supervision and socio-environmental mitigation actions. It will also support institutional strengthening actions, like assessing, structuring, and equipping the system for managing and maintaining the National Road Network’s large bridges. 

The program will also involve designing the operational plan for bridges and access networks between Resistencia and Corrientes, designing and implementing resilient territorial road planning, and promoting sustainable urban mobility.

The first individual loan of $345 million under this facility has a 25-year repayment term, a 5.5-year grace period, an interest rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), and an additional $100 million local contribution.