12/17/2025
In 1998, Honduras built a bridge over the Choluteca River, but Hurricane Mitch rerouted the river.
The Choluteca Bridge, also known as the “Bridge to Nowhere,” became a global symbol of resilience, misfortune, and adaptation. Built in 1998 with Japanese engineering, the bridge was designed to withstand the strongest storms and stand for decades as a vital connection for Honduras. Ironically, when Hurricane Mitch swept across Central America later that same year, it devastated infrastructure, displaced over a million people, and caused massive loss of life. Yet the bridge itself remained intact, virtually undamaged by the storm.
The catch was that Mitch had changed the course of the Choluteca River entirely. Instead of flowing beneath the bridge, the river carved out a new path beside it, leaving the impressive structure suspended over dry ground.
