Heavy rains in Apure, a border state in southwestern Venezuela, caused the El Muerto bridge to collapse on July 13, 2025. This bridge connected Bruzual and Mantecal, two towns that rely on it for moving goods, food, fuel, and medical supplies. Taking a road and rail link across one of the biggest rivers in South America, together with its swamps and flood-plain, called for a new crossing of truly superlative dimensions. The Second Orinoco crossing or Orinoquia Bridge is a combined road and railway bridge over the Orinoco River near Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela. The Venezuelan Ministry of Transport confirmed the.