Guatemala was committed to acquiring the rights of Vía in Moyuta to collaborate with the construction of the Manuel José Arce bridge, whose execution corresponds to El Salvador. According to Delfino Mendoza, external consultant of the Guatemala initiative does not stop, after a year and a half of delay, Guatemala obtained the necessary road rights so that the bridge is completed within an estimated period of four to six months.
It was in 2012 when the governments of Guatemala – then presided by Otto Pérez Molina – and from El Salvador decided to create a binational technical commission to address the border infrastructure. This is reported by Mendoza, who adds that from said commission there were priority to three bridges: the Anguiatú bridge, in Chiquimula; the El Jobo bridge, in Jutiapa; and the Manuel José Arce bridge in Moyuta. The first and the last were under the responsibility of El Salvador, while the El Jobo bridge corresponds to Guatemala.
The bridge under construction has four circulation lanes and an approximate length of 150 meters, according to information provided by the General Directorate of Roads (DGC).
After concluding the Anguiatú bridge in 2020, El Salvador began the project of the second assigned bridge, according to Mendoza. However, he explained that, despite the fact that the work was the responsibility of the neighboring country, Guatemala should manage the rights of the territory to execute it. These rights had a delay of a year and a half, which delayed the process of construction of the bridge, which had to end for 2024. Indeed, if we refer to what is stipulated in the memorandum, Guatemala was delayed in fulfilling its part, Mendoza said.
Currently there is already the rights of the way; However, the construction of the Guatemalan side is still pending, in addition to approximately one kilometer of road to link the new bridge with the existing road network and allow its entry into service.
What is needed
El Salvador began the planning of the bridge thanks to a loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE), said Mendoza, who added that, from this, the engineering studies were carried out and the location of the new bridge was determined with accompaniment of the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV). The new bridge will be located approximately 200 meters down the current bridge.
Access to enter El Salvador is already completed, According to Mendoza. “It is not much that is missing; on the side of Guatemala is to make the filling to take the road to the bridge. They are relatively simple works that can be done quickly,” said Mendoza, who added that a kilometer of additional road also lacks. The specialist stressed that the entire bridge is the responsibility of El Salvador, in the same way as Guatemala will be responsible for both accesses when the El Jobo bridge is built.
According to the General Directorate of Roads (DGC), they are currently waiting for the official notification and the final planes, approved by both El Salvador and Guatemala. However, according to statements of the entity, it will be necessary to acquire the right of way of two additional areas to comply with the dimensions of the new approved design.
“The Vía Law Section is waiting for the officialization of the plans that were sent by the Republic of El Salvador, due to the changes that the technicians considered to improve access to the Guatemalan territory,” said the DGC.
On the other hand, the municipality of Moyuta donated an area in the city of Pedro de Alvarado, the DGC detailed, an entity that added that said land will be part of the roundabout. However, vehicles that were in the area of two municipal properties should be relocated. According to the DGC, on March 24, 2025 the transfer of these vehicles began.
For Mendoza, the bridge currently in operation has damage due to tropical storms. He stressed that the Agatha storm destroyed access to the bridge from the Guatemalan side.
A new libramiento
While El Salvador advanced with the work, Mendoza recalled that a study entitled facilitation of border bridges was prepared, in which it is highlighted that it is advisable to improve connectivity between the two countries was the creation of a greater extension, with the aim of avoiding the passage through the center of the villages.
It was also recommended – according to Mendoza – locate the border post at the end of the release. However, for this to be possible, he admitted that it is necessary to acquire new roads and buy land to install said position. For this reason, the construction of the release was incorporated as a second phase of the project.
The problem that currently afflicts the users of this border, according to Mendoza, It is the slowness in the passage through customs. “The facilities are not the most convenient, and what happens is that a long line of vehicles is formed waiting for their turn,” said Mendoza, who added that sometimes they are generated Bottling of five or six kilometers of trucks in search of passing.