Atlantic Bridge, Panama

Third Bridge over Panama Canal
Western side of Atlantic Bridge during construction (19 March 2018)
Coordinates 9°18′35″N 79°55′11″W / 9.30984°N 79.91970°W / 9.30984; -79.91970 (Atlantic Bridge)Coordinates: 9°18′35″N 79°55′11″W / 9.30984°N 79.91970°W / 9.30984; -79.91970 (Atlantic Bridge)
Carries Four lanes of traffic, pedestrians and bicycles
Crosses Atlantic approach to the Panama Canal
Locale Colón, Panama
Owner Panama Canal Authority
Characteristics
Design double-pylon, double-plane cable-stayed bridge
Material Prestressed concrete
Total length 2,820 m (9,250 ft)
Height 212.5 m (697 ft)
Longest span 530 m (1,740 ft)
No. of spans 3 (230, 530, 230 m)
Piers in water 1
Clearance below 75 m (246 ft)[1]
History
Designer HPDI and Louis Berger Group
Constructed by Vinci Construction Grands Projets
Construction start January 2013
Construction end expected mid 2018

The third bridge over the Panama Canal, known as the Atlantic Bridge, is a road bridge under construction in Colón, Panama, which will span the Atlantic entrance to the Canal. When completed it will be the third bridge over the Panama Canal after the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge, both on the Pacific side of the canal.

The bridge is proposed to be a double-pylon, double-plane, concrete girder, cable-stayed bridge with a main span of 530 metres (1,740 ft) and two side spans of 230 metres (750 ft). The east and west approaches are to be 1,074 metres (3,524 ft) and 756 metres (2,480 ft) long, respectively. The bridge was designed by the China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) consisting of HPDI and Louis Berger Group.[1]

Construction

Three consortiums were approved to bid for the bridge construction: Acciona Infraestructuras -Tradeco (Spain and Mexico), Odebrecht–Hyundai Joint Venture (Brazil and Korea), and Vinci Construction Grands Projets (France). Tenders were received in August 2012.[2]

In October 2012, the Panama Canal Authority awarded a contract to the French company Vinci Construction to build a third (permanent) bridge, near the Atlantic side, for an offer price of US$366 million.[3] At that time the bridge had no name, but Third bridge and Atlantic side bridge were used, as well as Atlantic Bridge.[4][5]

Construction of the bridge and access viaducts, which commenced in January 2013, was planned to take three and a half years and was expected to be completed in 2016.[6] As of December 2016 the estimated completion date was middle of 2018.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Chinese firm to design new bridge over Panama Canal". China Daily. Xinhua. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  2. ↑ "Three Qualified To Bid On Third Bridge Over Panama Canal Project". Panama-Guide.com. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Panama Canal Awards Contract to Build Bridge on the Atlantic Side" (Press release). Panama Canal Authority. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Construction Of Third Bridge Over Panama Canal in Colon Will Start in October 2012". Panama-Guide.com. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "Third Bridge Over Canal to be Tendered in August". CentralAmericaData.com. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  6. ↑ "Atlantic Bridge, Panama". Vinci SA. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Informe Trimestral: Avance de los Contratos del Proyecto Puente sobre el Canal de Panamá en el Sector del Atlántico" (PDF). Autoridad del Canal de Panamá. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
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