VINCI Construction Delivers Atlantic Bridge in Panama

Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo, and Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Quijano, recently unveiled the Atlantic Bridge in Colón, located in Panama. This 4.6-kilometer structure, including 3.1 kilometers of engineering structures, located 3 kilometers from the Gatun and Agua Clara locks, creates a new link between the North American and South American continents that can be used whether the canal locks are in operation or not.

Due to the adversity of the Panamanian tropical climate on the Atlantic side, a technical solution entirely made of reinforced concrete was chosen by the Panama Canal Authority rather than a metal structure. The central span (the bridge section that spans the canal), consisting of 530 meters of concrete deck located 75 meters above sea level, constitutes a world record for a cable-stayed bridge, while its two towers dominate the waters of the Atlantic Ocean at over 210 meters high.

In order for work to be carried out without interrupting the transit of container ships, four innovative form travelers, each weighing 240 tons, were used to build the central span.

The work was completed without any serious accidents.

The construction of this bridge relied heavily on the product team: VINCI Construction Grands Projets for the construction of the bridge, Soletanche Bachy subsidiary Rodio Swissboring Panamá for the deep foundations and Freyssinet for the installation of the stays.