Puente

Slipping through time, imagine Quito’s landscape before concrete and steel. Early Quiteños ingeniously bridged ravines using felled trees. They cleverly laid trunks across the gaps, creating pathways like those on Benalcázar and Venezuela streets. Now, picture us here at Puente Chiche, a modern marvel soaring 137 meters high. This isn’t a bridge of simple tree trunks. Puente Chiche, completed in 2014, is a testament to engineering prowess, a six-lane highway leaping across a dramatic chasm. Its inclined piers and sleek design stand in stark contrast to its older, two-lane truss bridge neighbor downstream. That older Chiche Bridge, a mere 70 meters high, is a local landmark, a bustling crossing, and a hotspot for “puenting,” a thrilling rope swing jump. Puente Chiche is a vital artery to Mariscal Sucre International Airport. It represents Quito’s growth, echoing the city’s historical reliance on bridges to connect its expanding neighborhoods and conquer its challenging terrain. The bridge cost €38 million, a significant investment reflecting its importance. This modern marvel isn’t just a bridge; it’s a symbol of Quito’s progress, a connection between the past and the present, and, for the brave “puentistas,” a launchpad for an unforgettable adrenaline rush.