PANAMA CITY, Panama, March 6, 2012. Two consortia and one company presented documentation to pre-qualify for the bid to build the bridge on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal.

Representatives from each of the following internationally renowned companies/consortia handed in their proposals:

  • 1. Odebrecht – Hyundai Joint Venture (Brazil – Korea)
  • 2. Acciona Infraestructuras – Tradeco (Spain – Mexico)
  • 3. Vinci Construction Grands Projets (France)

The pre-qualification process is the first of two stages to determine which company or consortium will be tasked with building the bridge on the Atlantic side.

The evaluation process is based on best-value criteria.  This entails qualifying participants based on technical criteria, experience and financial capability.  The firms that meet the basic requirements will move to the second and final phase of the process, for which the ACP will release a request for proposals (RFP).  Thus, once the evaluation period is completed in approximately 45 days, the names of the pre-qualified consortia will be announced so that they may participate in the second stage of the process for the final selection of the contractor who will build the bridge.

The company/consortia that make it to this phase will be required to submit proposals and conduct visits to the site where the new bridge will be built.  The deadline to receive proposals is scheduled for July of 2012.

The bridge design is inspired on similar infrastructure work in countries such as Spain, Korea, France, China and Japan.  The double-plane, twin pylon, cable-stayed bridge will feature two lanes of traffic in each direction.  Its length will be 4.6 kilometers and it will stand 75 meters above sea level.

The bridge will be located 3 kilometers North of Gatun Locks and the new Post-Panamax locks on the Atlantic side province of Colon.  Once completed, it will benefit neighboring communities as it will expedite crossing over the Canal.

About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP’s Web site: http://www.pancanal.com/. You can also follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thepanamacanal.

Have you heard about our upcoming Congress?
The Panama Canal 2012 International Engineering and Infrastructure Congress is the first-ever engineering conference co-hosted by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The three-day conference shares best practices and detailed, practical, hands-on experience related to managing a significant infrastructure project. Tapped to present at the Congress are world-renown experts in the fields of geotechnical, electrical, structural and civil engineering. For more information, please refer to the Congress’ Web site: www.pancanal.com/canalcongress.