Skip to main content

Delays have hit Chile’s Chacao Bridge project

Delays now look likely to affect the construction programme for Chile’s Chacao Bridge project. The US$740 million bridge project, long in planning, has been delayed on previous occasions for a number of reasons. The tolled link will connect Chiloé Island with the Chilean mainland in its Region X once complete. This 2.6km link will become South America’s largest suspension bridge although its opening will reduce journey times considerably over 25-45 minutes taken by the ferries used at present to link with C
August 28, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Delays now look likely to affect the construction programme for Chile’s Chacao Bridge project. The US$740 million bridge project, long in planning, has been delayed on previous occasions for a number of reasons. The tolled link will connect Chiloé Island with the Chilean mainland in its Region X once complete. This 2.6km link will become South America’s largest suspension bridge although its opening will reduce journey times considerably over 25-45 minutes taken by the ferries used at present to link with Chiloé Island over the Chacao Channel. According to Chile's public works ministry, MOP, has moved back the tender process for the project towards the end of 2013.

The concession should be awarded in early 2014 with construction work itself commencing in 2015 and the structure opening to traffic in 2019. Eight consortia pre-qualified for the tender process. These are: Isei Joint Venture, Constructora Puente Chacao (CPC), 3959 Sacyr Samsung 3220 Parsons Puente Chacao, Consorcio Puelche, China Railwaygroup Limited, 3366 China Road and Bridge Corporation, Consorcio Cai Cai Vilu and Consorcio 1511 OAS-236 Hyundai-5549 Systra-Aas Jakobsenv.

Work on the bridge was original supposed to start in 2007 with its opening planned for 2012. However, a substantial increase in the costs estimated by the project team of designer and contractor showed that the price would exceed the limit imposed by the 968 Chilean Government. The project was cancelled, prompting an outcry from those on the island and was then revived in 2009 as a fall in the cost of steel made it economically feasible once more.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New Senegal highway to connect major cities
    June 18, 2015
    A new highway in Senegal will connect the cities of Touba and Thiès. Construction work for the 113km highway is being financed by China. This being supplied under a 25 year loan in a package worth some US$704.86 million. The tolled highway is being built by China Road and Bridge Corporation). Work is due to commence shortly, with the construction phase expected to last 45 months. The Senegalese Transport Ministry has stated that tolls will pay back the loan, and that 500-600 permanent jobs will be created i
  • Tanzania’s landmark bridge proposal
    June 8, 2023
    Tanzania is proposing a landmark bridge project.
  • Tender evaluation nears for Croatia’s Peljeski Bridge Project
    September 22, 2017
    Croatia’s roads agency Hrvatske Ceste will soon start evaluating tenders for the controversial Peljeski Bridge project, according to national media. Bids for construction of the four-lane 2.4km long bridge have been submitted by the China Road and Bridge Corporation, Austria's Strabag as well as consortia headed by Italy’s Astaldi and the Turkish company Ictas. The bridge will connect Croatian territory by traversing the Adriatic Sea’s Mali Ston Bay.
  • Road improvement plan laid out for Canada’s Prince Edward Island
    August 1, 2019
    The Canadian Atlantic province of Prince Edward Island will invest around US$170 million over four years to improve roads, including resurfacing 270km of highways. Projects will include the replacement of 18 bridges, according to a statement from Infrastructure Canada, a federal agency through which the central government will funnel $83.5 million towards the work. The province will provide $86.5 million, noted the agency. PEI is one of the three maritime provinces and is the smallest province of Cana