VINCI wins the Atlantic Bridge contract in Panama

15 November 2012 - New contracts - Panamá

The Panama Canal Authority, the government agency responsible for operating, maintaining, managing, preserving and modernising the canal, has awarded the contract to build the Atlantic Bridge to VINCI subsidiary, VINCI Construction Grands Projets. The contract is worth $366 million.

The bridge will be located 3 km north of the Gatun locks, near the city of Colon. The contract covers construction of a 1,050m-long cable-stayed concrete bridge carrying two lines of traffic in each direction, with a central span of 530 metres and pylons with a height of 212.5m. It will have a vertical clearance of 75m above the canal. The Atlantic Bridge will be the longest concrete cable stayed bridge in the world with a central span of 530 metres.

It will notably allow passage of the largest container ships (Post-Panamax), in accordance with the canal expansion programme. It will also allow vehicles to cross the Panama Canal on the Atlantic side, whether or not the locks are in operation.

To avoid disrupting navigation in the canal, it will not be possible for the work to be carried out in the waterway itself, which means the deck will have to be cast in place. The contract also includes construction of access viaducts on either side of the bridge with a total length of 2 km, together with connections to the existing road network.

Work is expected to start in January 2013 and last 3 ½ years.

This contract, which marks the historic return of a French company to the Panama Canal, is yet another addition to VINCI Construction Grands Projets' prestigious portfolio of bridges: Pont de Normandy (France), Severn Bridge (United Kingdom), Confederation Bridge (Canada), the bridge over the Tagus (Portugal), and Rion-Antirion (Greece).

 

About VINCI
VINCI is a global player in concessions, energy and construction, employing 280,000 people in more than 120 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, we are committed to operating in an environmentally, socially responsible and ethical manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. Based on that approach, VINCI’s ambition is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees, partners and society in general.