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Hydrography
More than 47 thousand people used the MTOP rafts in 2025
05/08/2026
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Every day, rural workers, students and neighbors cross the Negro River on the rafts that connect the towns of Durazno and Tacuarembó. This is an essential connection for daily life, production and territorial integration of communities such as San Gregorio de Polanco and Cuchilla de Ramírez.
Rafts allow the transfer of people, animals, light vehicles, cargo transport and machinery, constituting a key tool for the productive and social development of rural communities.
The vessels are managed by the National Hydrography Directorate, which carries out control and maintenance tasks to guarantee safe and adequate operating conditions.
Its operation may be affected by weather conditions that prevent safe navigation, such as strong winds, thunderstorms or hail, in accordance with the weather warnings issued by the Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (INUMET) for each area. Within this framework, the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works carries out monitoring to guarantee the safety of users and the continuity of the service.
During the year 2025, between the raft services of San Gregorio de Polanco and Cuchilla de Ramírez, a total of 19,921 vehicles, 2,262 animals and 47,448 people were transported, which reflects the relevance of these crossings for the mobility of inhabitants and the development of economic activities in the region.
Raft of San Gregorio de Polanco
This service, located in the department of Tacuarembó, connects daily with San Gregorio de Polanco and is used mainly by residents of the area for work, educational and commercial reasons. The raft has a maximum load capacity of 10 tons and allows the transfer of vehicles of different types, with a maximum length of 10 meters and a width of up to 3.50 meters.
From Durazno, numerous users travel daily to San Gregorio de Polanco to attend educational centers, carry out commercial activities and access different services. In turn, residents of San Gregorio use the crossing to go to rural establishments located in Durazno, mainly linked to forestry, agriculture, livestock and other rural tasks. In addition, it facilitates the connection with Route 6 and provides continuity to Route 43 that connects directly with Routes 5 and 6.
During the summer season, as well as during Carnival and Tourism Week, the service registers a significant increase in the flow of visitors arriving at the San Gregorio de Polanco spa.
If this service does not exist, the closest alternative crossing would be the Picada de Oribe bridge, which would involve traveling approximately 90 additional kilometers, a distance similar to traveling between Montevideo and Piriápolis.
In San Gregorio there are two rafts and two tugboats (in charge of moving the rafts). Typically, one of the rafts is operational, while the second remains as a backup to guarantee continuity of service in case the other must be removed for repair work. Maintenance is currently being carried out on the DHB-14 raft, a large-scale job that involves replacing the sheet metal and working on the structure.
Cuchilla de Ramírez Raft
The Cuchilla de Ramírez raft service, located in Durazno, connects this department with Tacuarembó, constituting an essential route for the local population and rural workers in the area. The boat has a maximum cargo capacity of 8 tons and can transport vehicles of any type, with a maximum length of 7 meters and a width of up to 3 meters.
The crossing is mainly used by people who carry out tasks in establishments located on the other side of the Río Negro, linked to activities such as forestry, plantations, beekeeping and livestock.
In this region there is no other alternative connection between both departments, so the service is essential to guarantee the mobility of the inhabitants and sustain the productive activities of the small town of Cuchilla de Ramírez.
In this way, the rafts contribute to improving connectivity and access in different areas of the country, especially in those territories where infrastructure alternatives are limited. Both services are free and operate 365 days a year, permanently connecting both locations.
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