President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended the ceremony on Wednesday (1st) marking the start of construction on the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge, with an investment of R$ 11.6 billion.
The 12.4-kilometer structure will link Salvador to Ilha de Itaparica across Baía de Todos-os-Santos. The project is part of the Novo PAC and is executed through a public-private partnership with a Chinese consortium.
The event took place in Vera Cruz on Ilha de Itaparica. Lula warned against real estate speculation and said it is necessary to prevent traditional residents from being displaced.
The concession contract lasts 35 years, with five years planned for construction. The work is expected to generate about 7,000 jobs during that phase.
