Atlantic Bridge, Panama

The Atlantic Bridge is a road bridge in Colón, Panama spanning the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. Completed in 2019, it is the third bridge over the canal after the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge, both on the Pacific side of the canal.

Atlantic Bridge
The bridge in August 2019
Coordinates9.30796°N 79.91863°W / 9.30796; -79.91863 (Atlantic Bridge)
CarriesFour lanes of traffic, pedestrians and bicycles
CrossesAtlantic entrance to the Panama Canal
LocaleColón, Panama
OwnerPanama Canal Authority
Characteristics
Designdouble-pylon, double-plane cable-stayed bridge
MaterialPrestressed concrete
Total length2,820 m (9,250 ft)
Height212.5 m (697 ft)
Longest span530 m (1,740 ft)
No. of spans3 (230, 530, 230 m)
Piers in water1
Clearance below75 m (246 ft)[1]
History
DesignerHPDI and Louis Berger Group
Constructed byVinci Construction Grands Projets
Construction startJanuary 2013
Construction endAugust 2019
Location

The bridge is 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 1,074 metres (3,524 ft) and 756 metres (2,480 ft) long, respectively. The bridge was designed by the China Communication Construction Company[1] and built by Vinci Construction.

Route

The bridge is part of a local connection road (as yet unnamed) between Bolivar Highway in the east and the undeveloped western area. It will replace the nearby Panama Canal Ferry. It is the only bridge north of the Culebra Cut (Puente Centenario).

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] The main span of the bridge was keyed (joined into a single span) on 6 September 2018.[7] The bridge was unveiled by Panama President Laurentino Cortizo and Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Quijano on Friday 2 August 2019.[8]

  • Western side of Atlantic Bridge during construction (19 March 2018)
    Western side of Atlantic Bridge during construction (19 March 2018)
  • Construction workers on Atlantic Bridge (1 February 2018)
    Construction workers on Atlantic Bridge (1 February 2018)
  • Atlantic Bridge during construction (1 February 2018)
    Atlantic Bridge during construction (1 February 2018)
  • Atlantic Bridge during construction (19 March 2018)
    Atlantic Bridge during construction (19 March 2018)

See also

References
  1. "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. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. 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. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. 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. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  7. "Atlantic Bridge in Panama successfully keyed". Vinci SA. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  8. "VINCI completes construction of Atlantic Bridge in Panama". roadtraffic-technology. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
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