Chilean bridge project to Chiloe Island delayed

Delays to the project to construct Chile’s Chacao Bridge mean that an additional two years may be required for the work. The work is now being carried out solely by a consortium, Consorcio Puente Chacao, headed by the South Korean contractor Hyundai.
October 31, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

Delays to the project to construct Chile’s Chacao Bridge mean that an additional two years may be required for the work. The work is now being carried out solely by a consortium, Consorcio Puente Chacao, headed by the South Korean contractor 236 Hyundai. The consortium asked for an extra US$200 million to carry out the project, in addition to extending the work by two years. The bridge was originally planned to be complete by 2020 but the various delays so far mean that it will not now be ready for traffic until 2023. The extra costs mean that the final bill for the project could be $900 million. 

A suspension bridge design was selected  for the link as it was thought to be best able to cope with the extremes of weather, as well as the massive earthquakes that can occur in the area. At 2.75km long, this will be South America’s longest suspension bridge once complete, with main spans of 1,055 and 1,155m. According to Hyundai, progress is being achieved on the project and the design for the south pillar is now complete.

Once the bridge is complete it will help to redevelop the economy of Chiloe Island. At present the inhabitants rely on a ferry service however the new bridge will speed transport and reduce journey times, boosting the economy and also helping to develop tourism. 

The bridge has been discussed for some years. An earlier plan for the project was cancelled over concerns about its costs. However the current project was commissioned as the suspension bridge configuration offered considerable cost benefits over the previous design, while delivering the expected connectivity to the island.
 

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Diamond in the Pearl: China’s Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge complex
    March 8, 2018
    People in the Pearl River Delta are celebrating the Chinese New Year with the imminent opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. David Arminas reviews progress. China’s Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, is celebrated with the usual enthusiasm and spectacular fireworks. But celebrations will be particularly joyous for many people in the southern Pearl River Delta. The soon-to-be-open Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will slash travel time between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Zhuh
    Read More
  • Argentina bridge project attracting interest
    January 10, 2018
    Plans are being drawn up in Argentina for a new bridge that will connect Parana and Santa Fe. The project will be handled under the PPP model and involves the construction of a bridge and highway connection that is expected to cost US$650 million. The work will be carried out in three phases. South Korean contractor Hyundai has expressed strong interest in the project.
    Read More
  • CT Ictas and Astaldi submit complaint over Peljeski Bridge award
    February 14, 2018
    Croatian media are reporting a dispute between two consortia and that of the China Road and Bridges over the Peljeski bridge project. Croatia’s national roads company Hrvatske Ceste chose China Road and Bridges but the decision is being challenged by a consortium led by the Italian firm Astaldi and one by Turkish CT Ictas. The two consortia submitted their complaints to the Croatian State Commission for Control of Public Ordering Processes in January only days after similar action by another consortia led
    Read More
  • El Salvador’s new road projects
    September 7, 2022
    El Salvador is planning major new road projects.
    Read More

Highlighted Content