<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Statistics </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Daily traffic </Th> <Td> 35,000 (2004) </Td> </Tr> <P> The Bridge of the Americas (Spanish: Puente de las Américas; originally known as the Thatcher Ferry Bridge) is a road bridge in Panama, which spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal . Designed by Sverdrup & Parcel, it was completed in 1962 at a cost of US $20 million, connecting the north and south American land masses . Two other bridges cross the canal: the Atlantic Bridge at the Gatun locks (expected 2018) and the Centennial Bridge . </P> <P> The Bridge of the Americas crosses the Pacific approach to the Panama Canal at Balboa, near Panama City . It was built between 1959 and 1962 by the United States at a cost of US $20 million . From its completion in 1962 until the opening of the parallel Centennial Bridge in 2004, the Bridge of the Americas was a key part of the Pan-American Highway . The Bridge of the Americas greatly increases road traffic capacity across the Canal . Two earlier bridges cross the Canal, but they use moveable designs and have limited traffic capacity . These earlier spans include a small swinging road bridge, built into the lock structure at Gatún, and a swinging road / rail bridge constructed in 1942 at Miraflores . The Centennial Bridge was constructed to eliminate the bottleneck of, and reduce traffic congestion on, the Bridge of the Americas . </P>

Is there a bridge over the panama canal