The city of Iquitos, in northern Peru, is the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road. With a population of almost half a million people, the urban center is currently only accessible by river and air. But that is about to change, thanks in part to two Potain MC 310 K16 tower cranes that are helping build a 1,410 ft (430 m) long bridge connecting the city with nearby roadways.

The major piece of infrastructure, which will include the construction of 4,934 ft (1,504 m) of elevated access viaducts, will go over the Nanay River, a tributary of the Amazon River. The project’s cost is estimated at US$168 million.

To build the main section of the cable-stayed bridge, ETAC, Peru’s certified Potain dealer, provided two MC 310 K16 tower cranes for the consortium leading the project. The cranes are helping lift 6,600 USt (6,000 t) of reinforced steel and another 6,400 USt (5,800 t) of structural steel. The cranes are also helping move more than 1,236,013 ft3 (35,000 m³) of concrete.

The Nanay Bridge will become the longest and most modern bridge in Peru, and we’re proud to supply such an important project with some of the world’s most trusted tower cranes,

said Carlos Villacorta Canessa, general manager at ETAC.

The cranes were assembled at the site in mid-2018 and should remain until mid-2021. The bridge is expected to be completed on the second half of 2021.

ETAC has been Potain’s certified dealer for Peru since 2009. The company has been instrumental in helping expand Potain’s presence in South America as it services clients in Peru, Colombia and Chile. The Lima-based company has established a professional technical team across the region to ensure that cranes and parts are readily available for sales and rentals.