THE Ecuadorian government's landmark infrastructure project that involves the construction of the country's longest bridge will significantly improve connectivity to Guayaquil port, a vital trade gateway that currently handles 12 million tons of cargo annually. Spanning 44 kilometres in total, the southern viaduct project will directly link the port and the south side of Guayaquil to the province of El Oro, and the south of the country via a new road. The project that is expected to be completed in 2021 will lead to the construction of two major bridges: an 855-metre bridge over estero Cobina, which is close to the port run by Manila's International Container Terminal Service Inc (ICTSI), and a 3.44-kilometre bridge over the Guayas River, which will serve as an entry point to Guayaquil.