translated from Spanish: President Piñera inaugurates Treng Treng – Kay Kay bridge that connects Temuco with Padre Las Casas: “It will improve the lives of all the inhabitants of this region”

After a long wait for both communes, and after a white march with vehicular traffic that began on March 31 of this year, President Sebastián Piñera inaugurated this Saturday the Treng Treng – Kay Kay bridge that began its construction in 2014 and that connects the communes of Temuco with Padres Las Casas.
According to the president’s statements, the technology of the bridge is unique in the country, installing the region of La Araucanía at the forefront worldwide of its works. Its central structure is made of prestressed concrete and has a total width of 27 meters, which allows to project two circulation tracks in each direction, plus sidewalks and bicycle lane. The mast has a height of 72 meters.
“It is the first asymmetrical and cable-stayed bridge in our country. And, as was said, it is one of the largest works that have been carried out in terms of infrastructure in our country in a long time,” said President Piñera, who was accompanied in the activity by the Minister of Housing and UrbanIsm, Felipe Ward, and by the Mayor of the Region of La Araucanía, Víctor Manoli.
In addition to being a road work at the service of the community, it aims to be a tourist attraction, especially during the nights thanks to its lighting system.
In its design, Mapuche sculptural and figurative criteria have prevailed, which will lead it to become an iconic element for the city.
Its name comes from the Mapuche myth that has as protagonists two snakes: Kay Kay, who is from the waters, and Treng Treng, who is from the earth and who with his tremors and earth movements protects men from being flooded by rains, rivers or the sea that Brings Kay Kay.
“It is a bridge that not only has the beauty of its architecture, of its design, it will also allow a much better connection between two cities, Temuco and Padre Las Casas,” explained the Head of State.
The bridge cost $20 billion. However, if you consider the improvement of access and 15 kilometers of inland roads in Padre Las Casas, the total investment is $100 billion.
The construction of the bridge is part of the Plan Impulso Araucanía, which contemplates the execution of 727 initiatives and involves an investment of more than US$ 8,000 million until 2026.
During the first government of President Piñera, work was done on the design of the bridge, and the first stone for its construction was installed on March 8, 2014. The white march with vehicular traffic began on March 31 of this year.
“I want to congratulate all those who built this bridge that also allows a greater union and integration between Padre Las Casas and Temuco, but, hopefully, it will be a bridge that unites Chileans,” the president concluded.

Original source in Spanish