The Puente de la Integración, which connects Presidente Franco in Paraguay to Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil, will have its operations expanded starting August 3, 2026. The decision was announced by the Paraguay-Brazil Joint Commission during the LXVIII Ordinary Meeting of the Common Market Council (CMC) of Mercosur.
According to the agreement, unloaded trucks (in ballast) must use the Puente de la Integración exclusively between 7 AM and 7 PM, while loaded returns will be made via the Puente de la Amistad. International urban buses on the Presidente Franco-Foz do Iguaçu route may also use the new bridge as an option during the same hours, upon presentation of the Border Neighborhood Transit Document.
The Federal Revenue Service of Foz do Iguaçu stated that the measure aims to reorganize traffic flow between the two bridges, reduce vehicle congestion at the Puente de la Amistad, and improve logistical efficiency at the border. The operating hours for unloaded trucks will be extended, but the new schedule has not yet been released.
Currently, the Puente de la Integración operates partially, allowing nighttime passage for empty trucks (since December) and tour buses (since January). Full use of the infrastructure still depends on the completion of construction on the Paraguayan side, particularly the road access to divert heavy traffic from the urban area of Presidente Franco.
When fully operational, the new bridge is expected to ease the overload on the Puente de la Amistad, which currently handles approximately 43,000 vehicles and 93,000 people daily, according to 2024 data.