Lessons from the Chancay Bridge Collapse: The Need for a National Bridge Office in Peru

The collapse of the Chancay Bridge on February 14, 2025, on a strategic section of the Pan-American Highway, highlighted the vulnerability of bridges in Peru, due to aging infrastructure, increased heavy vehicle traffic, and the impacts of climate change. This event, which resulted in loss of life, was not an isolated case, but part of a broader structural crisis aggravated by fragmented management, the absence of real-time monitoring, and outdated regulations. In this analysis, we identify a combination of structural, hydraulic and operational deficiencies, as well as inspection and monitoring limitations. This policy brief proposes public policy measures for the prevention of similar collapses, including the creation of a National Bridge Office within the Ministry of Transport and Communications, with the aim of centralizing bridge management and strengthening institutional capacities.