Race hotting up for Panama canal bridge contract

Six major consortia have been placed on the shortlist to build the fourth bridge over the Panama canal.

All six organisations reportedly submitted satisfactory prequalification documents to Panama’s Ministry of Public Works in May.

The cable-stayed 1,118 m long bridge will cross the canal north of the Bridge of the Americas. Along with six lanes for cars, the bridge is also expected to carry two further lanes for the Metro line.

Some of the major firms driving their respective partnerships towards the US$ 1 billion contract are:

US-based Dragados; Brazil’s Construtora Norberto Odebrecht; South Korea’s Hyundai; and Italian firm Astaldi; as well as a number of state-owned Chinese firms, including China Communications Construction Company and China State Engineering Corporation.

A final version of the tender expected by the end of this month.