The design and construction contract will create South America’s longest suspension bridge.
During the prequalification stage, 47 domestic and foreign companies bought the prequalification documentation. Minister of public works Loreto Silva said that call for qualifications had been overwhelmingly positive, reaching a significant number of international companies. The MOP is now assessing which groups meet the technical and financial requirements that have been set to take account of the size and complexity of this project. The prequalification emphasised the importance of experience in the design and construction of suspension bridges of great length.
The next step is the delivery of the tender documents to prequalified companies. Bids are due to be submitted to the MOP this year so that the project can be awarded in the first quarter of 2014. Work will begin in 2015, to take the bridge service during 2019.
The 2,635m-long bridge was one of several projects planned to commemorate Chile's bicentennial in 2010 but the cost rose from an initial US$410 million in 2005 to US$930 million and the project was suspended. Design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance was originally to have been carried out by the Chiloé Bicentennial Bridge Consortium, consisting of Vinci, Hochtief, American Bridge, Besalco and Tecsa. Plans were revived in 2009.
