Spanning the Matanza River, the Viejo Puente Pueyrredón whispers tales of resilience and reinvention. Officially named Puente Prilidiano Pueyrredón it connects Buenos Aires with Avellaneda. This bridge is more than just a crossing. It’s a symbol of connection, a testament to engineering ambition.
Since the 17th century, crossing the Riachuelo was only possible by canoe. One crossing point was Paso Pedro Salazar. In 1653, the Cabildo regulated canoe crossings for public use. This became the first official crossing. It was known as Paso de la Canoa. It was there that the first bridge over the Riachuelo was built.
Imagine the scene on December 1, 1791. The first bridge over the Matanza River was inaugurated. This Puente de Gálvez stood at Paso de la Canoa. Juan Gutiérrez Gálvez oversaw its construction. Initially planned with stone, cal, and brick it was ultimately built of wood. Skilled labor and materials were scarce. Gálvez was granted a 5-year concession. He maintained the bridge and collected tolls.
The bridge acquired several names. It was first called Puente de Gálvez. Later, it was known as Puente de Madera and Puente de Barracas. During Juan Manuel de Rosas’s rule, it was painted red. It was renamed Puente de la Restauración de las Leyes. After British invasions, the bridge was set ablaze. This was to prevent the British from crossing. The bridge was soon reopened.
Disaster struck in 1858. A Matanza River flood destroyed the Gálvez bridge. The artist and engineer Prilidiano Pueyrredón stepped forward. He proposed an iron bridge with a bascule mechanism. This would allow ships to pass. The government approved his project.
However, tragedy marred its inauguration in 1867. The mechanism failed and the bridge collapsed. Pueyrredón and partners signed a new contract. They committed to building a new bridge. Financial strain and failing health weighed on Pueyrredón. He died in 1870 before seeing his vision realized. The government honored him by naming the bridge after him.
But the Puente Pueyrredón faced more trials. It was swept away by a major flood in 1884. A wooden bridge replaced it immediately. In 1899, construction began on a new iron bascule bridge. It opened in 1903. This bridge included rail tracks for Buenos Aires trams.
The increasing traffic demanded a larger bridge. On September 20, 1931, the fourth bridge was inaugurated. The prior one was dismantled. The new Puente Pueyrredón was also a bascule bridge. In the 1940s, about 21000 vehicles crossed it daily. The government scheduled openings for ships. In 1945, the bridge opened about 70 times a month.
The bascule mechanism was discontinued in 1969. In December 1969, the New Pueyrredón Bridge opened. The Viejo Puente Pueyrredón lost vehicular traffic. It was remodeled in 2009 and reopened in 2010.
Today, the Viejo Puente Pueyrredón stands as a historic landmark. It is a testament to Argentina’s past. Its iron structure continues to connect communities. It stands as a symbol of enduring strength. The bridge has a total length between abutment axes of 91.856 m. The width of the road is 12.00 m. The width of the side sidewalks is 2.47 m. The central level of the pavement is +7.47 m.