The Fisculco Bridge is a significant engineering feat in Bolivia. Located on the highway between Sucre (Chuquisaca) and the municipality of Ravelo (Potosí), it is part of the Jaime Mendoza Diagonal Route. With a total length of 310 meters and a height of 123 meters above the riverbed, it is considered the tallest bridge in the country, built using the successive cantilevering technique. Its structure consists of three continuous spans of post-tensioned concrete mono-cellular box girders of variable height, with a central span of 140 meters between columns. The infrastructure includes two abutments and two reinforced concrete piers with deep pile foundations at both piers. Due to its slender geometry, design characteristics, and location, this structure is subject to various dynamic loads, resulting in a dynamic behavior about which little is known because this type of structure is not yet very common in Bolivia. A complex construction and commissioning phase were completed, pointing out the need of monitoring of the bridge during its operation. On this subject, it is worth noting that Bolivia has not yet approved a National regulatory framework for the design of bridges, so that International standard, like AASHTO, are generally adopted in the design and construction phase.

Particular attention is herein paid to an overview of the structure and of the construction site which particular emphasis on the seismic hazard and the seismic vulnerability according to relevant National and International Codes. More in detail, the objective of this contribution is to assess the applicability and performance of the Italian regulatory body concerning the risk classification and management, safety assessment, and monitoring of existing bridges. So doing, pros and cons of the knowledge transfer to the Bolivian road network are analyzed and discussed in view of improving the operation and the service safety of the Fisculco Bridge.

Keywords: Infrastructure, Bridges, Inspections, Safety assessment, Bolivian road network, Fisculco Bridge.