El Salvador has officially inaugurated the new General Manuel José Arce Binational Bridge, a modern infrastructure project built over the Paz River to connect the La Hachadura border with Pedro de Alvarado in Guatemala. Replacing an aging single-lane structure built in 1960, the newly designed elevated bridge features four lanes and lacks intermediate river piers, effectively preventing the flood-related closures that historically disrupted regional commerce during heavy rainy seasons.
As El Salvador’s most critical land customs point with Guatemala, La Hachadura handles a massive volume of regional logistics, accommodating approximately 1.5 million vehicles annually. El Salvador’s Minister of Public Works, Romeo Herrera, emphasized that modernizing this strategic link represents a direct investment in mobility and national development, ensuring continuous supply chain connectivity between the two nations.
Under the administration of President Nayib Bukele, the upgrade is coupled with tech-driven customs operations designed to accelerate cargo processing. Customs Director Benjamín Mayorga reported that consolidated dispatch operations and new digital systems are already drastically reducing wait times for importers and exporters, positioning the country’s trade management as a modern benchmark across Central America.
Local transport operators have welcomed the immediate speed and reliability brought by the new crossing. Truck driver Johnny Serrano noted, “This was something we were eagerly waiting for; for us, it is a huge advantage and a great help,”while fellow transporter Erick Martínez added that “everything is faster now and traffic flows much better—it is a great piece of work.”