Dilma inaugurates bridge connecting Bahia and Sergipe.
The Gilberto Amado Bridge connects the southern coast of the state with the northern coast of Bahia; according to the Sergipe government, the structure, which is 1.712 meters long and 14,2 meters wide over the Piauí River, is the largest river bridge in the Northeast; the bridge's name is a tribute to the journalist who was a cousin of the Bahian writer Jorge Amado.
Bahia 247 with Agência Brasil
President Dilma Rousseff inaugurated the Gilberto Amado Bridge in Sergipe this morning, connecting the southern coast of the state with the northern coast of Bahia. According to the Sergipe government, the structure – 1.712 meters long and 14,2 meters wide over the Piauí River – is the largest river bridge in the Northeast.
Built with federal funds, through the Ministry of Tourism and the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), and matching funds from the state government, the Gilberto Amado Bridge (between the municipalities of Estância and Indiaroba) received investments exceeding R$ 124 million.
The bridge is part of a project to integrate the entire coastline of the state and reduces the distance between Aracaju and Salvador, connecting the two capitals entirely via coastal roads. In addition to shortening distances, the Gilberto Amado Bridge should help reduce the flow of vehicles circulating on the BR-101 highway, which is being widened to a dual carriageway.
Gilberto Amado, a cousin of Jorge Amado, was born in 1887 in Estância, near where the bridge will be inaugurated today. He – who died in 1969 in Rio de Janeiro – was a journalist, writer, politician, and ambassador.