Panama Canal awards contract to build bridge on expanded Atlantic side

THE Panama Canal Authority has awarded a contract to build a US$366 million bridge on the Atlantic side of the Canal to Vinci Construction Grands Projets of France.

The bridge design is inspired on similar infrastructure work in countries such as Spain, Korea, France, China and Japan. The double-plane, twin pylon, cable-stayed bridge will feature two lanes of traffic in each direction. Its length will be 4.6 kilometres and it will stand 75 metres above sea level. The bridge will be built with reinforced concrete.

The bridge will be located three kilometres north of the Gatun Locks and the new postpanamax locks on the Atlantic side province of Colon. Once completed, it will benefit neighbouring communities to cross the canal.

The tender beat rival bids from the Odebrecht-Hyundai Joint Venture (Brazil-Korea) and Acciona Infraestructuras-Tradeco (Spain-Mexico) because the French firm offered the lowest price, and $63 million less than the bid from Odebrecht-Hyundai.

All documentation was analysed by an expert evaluating committee, who reviewed technical aspects and previous experience, as well as the financial capacity of each company or group, a statement from canal authority said.