With the widening of the Panama Canal to access the new larger vessels that intend on transiting Panama comes the need for new taller bridges that will allow the wider and taller ships to pass under them.
Vinci Construction Grand Projets was awarded the construction of the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal for $366 million.
The French consortium offered the lowest price out of the three pre-qualified candidates, less than the $386 million from Tradeco Acciona and the $429 million from Hyundai Odebrecth.
The figure offered by the French consortium is below the official budget, said the Panama Canal Authority in a press release.
The design of the bridge, located on the Atlantic side of the Canal, is inspired by similar works from countries such as Spain, Korea, France, China and Japan.
The plan is to make a double delta bracing bridge in an inverted “Y” shape, with four lanes. Its length is 4.6 kilometers including its viaducts and the elevation is 75 meters above sea level. Its construction is entirely of concrete.
Source: Panama Canal Authority
I am distressed to see that the inclusion of a bid by the United States was not reported herein. I can only hope that the French can do a better job of building a bridge over the canal than they did in building the canal itself. “C’est le vie!’ -JIMBO
A $400 million dollar bridge going to one of the least developed caribbean beach areas in Panama. Can anyone guess where the next big beach boom in Panama will be?
Panama only has Caribbean and Pacific coasts (and oceans). The Pacific on the South side and the Caribbean Sea on the North coast. Please explain where the Atlantic coast or Atlantic Ocean is located relative to where the bridge will be built. I am totally disoriented. I hope the bridge is built on Panama’s Caribbean side of the country. Yes? Maybe?
Thank You