The Bridge of the Americas is located in the city of Balboa, spanning the Panama Canal and connecting different parts of the country, as well as North and South America. Thousands of cars cross this bridge every day.
The Bridge of the Americas, which features a corbel arch design, has a about 1,654 meters long and one less than 11 m wide, approximately. Its highest point is about 117 meters above mean sea level. The most commonly used material in its construction was steel.
Construction of this bridge began in December 1958 and lasted about four years; it was inaugurated on October 12, 1962. Before it was built, there was a ferry service connecting the two banks, located at the same spot. This ferry service served as the primary means of connection for about 30 years.
The construction cost about $20 million, and the reason for building it was the need to connect the two banks so that motor vehicles could cross the canal.
The The steel structure of the Bridge of the Americas weighs nearly 17 metric tons. The United States has always referred to it as the Thatcher Ferry Bridge, while Panama has always called it the Bridge of the Americas.
In 2003, the lighting system for the Bridge of the Americas received the GE Edison Award of Merit.
At the time of its opening, there were about 9,500 vehicles per day, reaching the 35,000 in 2004.
