Atlantic bridge in Panama opens

The Atlantic Bridge in Colón, Panama, which is 4.6km long and creates a new link between the North American and South American continents, has been completed.

Due to the Panamanian tropical climate, a technical solution entirely made of reinforced concrete was said to have been chosen by the Panama Canal Authority rather than use a traditional metal structure.

The central span (the bridge section that spans the canal), consists of 530m of concrete deck located 75m above sea level – this is said to be a world record for a cable-stayed bridge.

The two towers of the bridge are over 210m high.

The project was completed by Vinci Construction, with construction making use of the group’s subsidiaries: VINCI Construction Grands Projets for the construction of the bridge, Soletanche Bachy subsidiary Rodio Swissboring Panamá for the deep foundations and Freyssinet for the installation of the stays.