Itaipu Binacional has begun rehabilitation work on the José Costa Cavalcanti bridge, the main link between Hernandarias and Ciudad del Este on the PY07 route. The project, supervised by the binational company's own Works and Development Superintendency, aims to improve traffic flow, reinforce safety, and extend the lifespan of this crucial route in Alto Paraná.
The work includes complete pavement renewal, with removal of existing asphalt and application of a new layer. Cleaning and maintenance will also be performed on various sections of the roadway, along with replacement of all horizontal and vertical signage for better guidance of drivers and pedestrians. The structure will also receive improvements to the drainage system, erosion protection in areas most exposed to the river, and installation of protective guardrails along the entire length to increase safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
While an important bridge is being modernized, another community in the same region lives an opposite reality. About 400 families from the Pengo San Miguel colony, located between the districts of Los Cedrales and Minga Guazú, have depended for over 30 years on a precarious ferry to cross the Monday River. The vessel, in an advanced state of deterioration, must be constantly emptied of water that enters to prevent sinking during crossings.
Residents, including students, workers, rural producers, and elderly people who need to access health and education services, report that the ferry has had steel cables break, leaving people and vehicles adrift. Access to the crossing point is 11 kilometers from the PY-02 highway via a dirt road, which worsens the community's isolation. The Alto Paraná Departmental Board has already declared an emergency for the construction of a permanent bridge.
The project is linked to a $75 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), intended for the Rural Connectivity Improvement Program of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC). The project for bridge construction has received initial approval in the Senate but still awaits inclusion on the Chamber of Deputies' voting agenda.