Due to the repeated and improper use of the Juan Pablo II Bridge by heavy cargo vehicles, the Regional Ministerial Secretariat of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) of Biobío issued a strict call to respect the current regulations prohibiting truck traffic on said viaduct, a measure established since 2010.
The Juan Pablo II Bridge, which connects Concepción with San Pedro de la Paz, suffered significant structural damage following the earthquake of February 27, 2010. Since that time, Exempt Resolution 247 of October 25, 2010 of the MTT, maintained and validated by the MOP, prohibits the circulation of all types of trucks, regardless of their gross vehicle weight and characteristics.
In this regard, the Regional Ministerial Secretary of the MOP, José Piña, reported that “it is essential to remind the community and the logistics sector that, since 2010, there has been a current prohibition for truck traffic on the Juan Pablo II Bridge, a necessary measure because the passage of heavy cargo represents a real risk to the integrity of its infrastructure.”
A recent engineering study by the MOP has determined that the structure requires critical care, with a limited remaining useful life. The passage of high-tonnage trucks generates an “intense and improper use” that accelerates the deterioration of support points, piers, and seismic anchors, increasing the risk of accidents and shortening the bridge’s useful life.
With the aim of strengthening road connectivity in Greater Concepción and safeguarding the safety of thousands of daily users, the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), through the Roads Directorate, has initiated the conservation contract for the Juan Pablo II Bridge.
This structural intervention, which responds to the accumulated wear and tear after more than 50 years of operation, seeks to extend the useful life of the oldest viaduct over the Biobío River.
Regional Ministerial Secretary Piña stated that “the conservation project has an estimated investment of $9,000 million and contemplates a comprehensive intervention that includes structural reinforcement, maintaining trafficability conditions, improving road safety aspects of the bridge, in addition to the installation of a gantry with surveillance cameras to measure speed and control truck traffic.”
The works, which will begin in June 2026, will be carried out during night shifts over a period of 600 days, in coordination with municipalities.
The MOP urged trucks traveling on the Juan Pablo II Bridge to use the Puente Industrial or the Puente Llacolén for their transit. It is recalled that the Juan Pablo II Bridge is intended only for light vehicles and public transportation.
Non-compliance with this regulation entails serious infractions referred to the Local Police Court.
