Paraguay opens new 'super-viaduct' in Asunción

Paraguay's public works ministry (MOPC) and the country's vice president Juan Afara have officially opened a new overpass in capital Asunción, dubbed the "super-viaduct" by authorities.

Total investment in the project was around US$22mn and it involved the construction of the overpass over Aviadores del Chaco avenue and a 400m, four-lane tunnel on Madame Lynch avenue, which is one of the busiest areas of the city for traffic. According to the MOPC website, the structure has three levels, a turnabout, the tunnel and the overpass itself.

The works were carried out by the company Isolux and the initiative was the first to be carried out under the country's new PPP law.

In his ribbon-cutting speech, public works minister Ramón Jiménez said that road-users of this new infrastructure are now expected to save up to two hours per day when entering or leaving Asunción.

In total, 65,000 vehicles per day are expected to use from the overpass and tunnel.

Jiménez also underlined that the government is currently spending US$1.2bn on road, sanitation, public transport and storm drainage infrastructure, in what he called "the biggest public works program in 35 years."