U.S. Inaugurates Tallest Bridge in ES

The tallest bridge in El Salvador, located at Nombre de Jesus, Chalatenango.

On June 28, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Sean Murphy joined President Mauricio Funes to formally inaugurate the tallest bridge in El Salvador, located at Nombre de Jesus, Chalatenango, and connecting the departments of Chalatenango and Cabañas.

The Nombre de Jesus Bridge, which passes 27 meters above El Salvador’s Lempa River, represents a final step in the completion of the Northern Highway, the major infrastructure project of El Salvador’s 5-year, $461 million compact with the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The bridge itself took 14 months to complete and cost $11.3 million. During the construction period, the project generated an average of 230 jobs per month for the residents of Chalatenango and Cabañas.

The significance of the Nombre de Jesus Bridge to residents of the Northern Zone cannot be underestimated. Prior to its construction, the only road connecting the departments of Chalatenango and Cabañas was a one-lane path that could only be crossed by pick-ups and other four-wheel-drive vehicles. By linking these two mountainous departments to each other and to the new Northern Highway, the bridge connects many residents to major urban centers for the first time.

Also participating in the ceremony with Chargé Murphy and President Funes were Salvadoran First Lady Vanda Pignato, Technical Secretary and President of the FOMILENIO Board of Directors Dr. Alexander Segovia, FOMILENIO Director Jose Angel Quiroz, local mayors and beneficiaries of the Northern Zone.