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RÍO PUERTO NUEVO

Central Río Piedras

 
 
Design
Construction Start
Construction End

Central Río Piedras and Las Américas Bridges

Design & Construction Contract No. 4

95%
Spring 2028
Late 2035
Map of the Río Puerto Nuevo Flood Risk Management Project in San Juan, Puerto Rico, showing the planned project construction on the Río Piedras at the Las Américas Expressway and Piñero Avenue interchange.
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In this phase of the project, the Río Piedras runs through Luis Muñoz Marín Park and under four major bridges, including the Las Américas Expressway and Piñero Avenue. Although the bridges are high above the water and do not flood during rainstorms, the river channel in this area quickly overtops and flood waters spread across the park and towards Baldrich and University Gardens communities. Widening and deepening the river requires that these bridges be replaced.

Project Information

Completed Phase
Four bridges, including one on Las Américas Expressway, will be replaced during this phase. These bridges will be lengthened to match the new width of the river and will be built to comply with the latest seismic requirements.
Completed Phase
The bridge on Las Américas Expressway will be widened to include additional lanes for the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PHRHTA) to use in a future project.
Articulated Concrete Blocks
Articulated concrete blocks like the one pictured here at the Río de la Plata Flood Damage Reduction Project in Dorado, Puerto Rico, help prevent erosion and manage the flow of water while still allowing plants to grow to create habitat.

Las Americas Bridges

Design & Construction Contract No. 4

Four bridges on the Las Américas Expressway at between Exits 2 (Domenech Avenue) and Exit 3 (Piñero Avenue) will be replaced during this phase:

  • The bridge on Las Américas Expressway that crosses the Río Piedras between Exits 2 and 3
  • Exit 3A, Piñero Avenue Westbound Exit
  • Exit 3B, Piñero Avenue Eastbound Exit
  • Piñero Avenue (both East and Westbound lanes) over the Río Piedras

These bridges need to be replaced to accommodate the new, wider river channel. The new bridges will also meet the latest seismic requirements to allow them to withstand significant earthquakes.

The river channel itself will be widened and deepened to increase channel capacity and efficiently convey water downstream during rain events. To help reduce erosion on the river bottom, articulated concrete blocks will be installed to slow the water’s flow. These blocks are flexible and form to the river’s natural bottom. They also allow aquatic vegetation to grow and provide habitat to fish and other aquatic species.

Given Luis Muñoz Marín Park’s central location, it will be the site of a temporary construction staging area for construction materials and equipment. Additionally, within the park, a soil disposal area will be constructed.

Construction Information

Construction information will be released after the project is awarded to a contractor in Fall 2027.
Last Updated: July 2025