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

  • Major Central American infrastructure projects
    February 23, 2012
    Mexico and Central America are home to some of the world's most spectacular infrastructure projects as Patrick Smith reports
  • Construction completion for Colombia concession contracts
    December 14, 2017
    Colombia’s massive road and highway development programme is still moving ahead, with a series of major concession projects due for completion by 2020. A consortium titled Via al Mar is on track to finish construction of the Cartagena-Barranquilla highway in August 2019, for which the company has a 25-year concession agreement. The tender process for the final stretches of the Ruta del Sol II highway will commence shortly.
  • UK motorway bridge work
    June 10, 2025
    A new bridge now spans the UK’s busy M6 motorway.
  • Santiago’s Autopista Central in line for improvements
    June 18, 2015
    Motorway operator Autopista Central de Chile (AC) has applied to the Ministry of Public Works to make improvements worth around US$340 million to the Autopista Central system in the capital Santiago. Improvements are scheduled for the Quilicura area. AC will present an environmental impact and engineering study this summer to the ministry. Much of the work will take place at night time to avoid traffic disruption. Autopista Central consists of two highways, the westernmost of which branches off from t