Since 15 October, El Salvador and Guatemala have had a new border link: the Manuel José Arce binational bridge, built over the Paz River between La Hachadura (Ahuachapán) and Ciudad Pedro de Alvarado, in Moyuta (Jutiapa).
The structure is 420 metres long with four lanes, two in each direction, whereas the old bridge had only one lane each way. El Salvador invested 32 million dollars.
The new facilities bring together migration, customs, police and traveller services in one place, with scanners for goods. The authorities aim to cut waiting times to under 30 minutes and raise capacity to 4,000 vehicles.
Crossing will be free of charge, with no tolls, according to Guatemala’s infrastructure ministry, quoted by the newspaper Prensa Libre. The old bridge remains open, with no closing date set yet.
