Simón Bolívar International Bridge

{{short description|Bridge connecting Colombia and Venezuela}}

File:Simón Bolívar International Bridge.jpg

File:CIDH at Colombia-Venezuela border 4.jpg officials at the bridge in 2015]]

The Simón Bolívar International Bridge ({{langx|es|Puente Internacional Simón Bolívar}}) is a {{Convert|300|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} bridge across the Táchira River on the Venezuela–Colombia border, connecting the city of San Antonio del Tachira in Venezuela with the small town of La Parada in Colombia.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/Venezuela_bridge|title=The bridge of desperation|website=BBC News}} The first major city in Colombia after the border is Cúcuta.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-10-12/thousands-are-fleeing-venezuela-by-two-lane-border-bridge|title=Thousands Are Fleeing Venezuela by Two-Lane Border Bridge |author=Andrew Rosati |date=12 October 2017 |website=www.bloomberg.com|accessdate=4 September 2018}}

Until the Venezuelan economic crisis, it was a popular crossing point for Colombians to shop across the border. In 2015, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro closed the bridge to vehicular traffic.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-election-migration/unconvinced-by-election-venezuela-emigrees-stream-across-border-idUSKCN1Ik|title= Unconvinced by Election Venezuela Emigrees Stream Across Border, Reuters 19 May 2018.|author=|date=|website=reuters.com|accessdate=12 February 2019}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Since at least 2017, the traffic is mostly people leaving Venezuela.