Chacao Channel bridge

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Map of the Chacao Channel bridge

The Chiloé Bicentennial Bridge, popularly known as the Chacao Channel bridge, was a planned suspension bridge to link the island of Chiloé with continental Chile through the Chacao Channel. It was one of the several projects planned to commemorate the bicentennial of Chile's independence in 2010. If completed, it would have been the largest suspension bridge in South America.

Construction of the bridge was scheduled to start in the second half of 2007 and completion was due in late 2012 at an approximate cost of US$410 million. However, on July 31, 2006, the consortium in charge of the project revealed that the total cost of constructing the bridge was US$930 million, which was above the limit of US$607 million imposed by the Chilean state. Because of this, the ministry of Public Works decided not to continue with the project, resulting in outrage by some people of Chiloé, who saw this as a broken promise by the government. The mayors of Chiloé's communes, most of them part of the ruling left-wing coalition, criticized the ministry of Public Works for cancelling the project. To compensate the people of Chiloé for not building the bridge, president Michelle Bachelet promised a variety of improvements of the island's infrastructure.

1 Dimensions and features
2 Design and construction
3 Advantages
4 Criticism
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Dimensions and features

The bridge's length would total 2,635 m, and would consist of three concrete towers (two 179.6 m high towers and one 160.77 m high south tower), two mainspans of 1,055 m and 1,100 m, and a suspended sidespan of 380 m, providing a minimum vertical clearance for navigation of 59 m. It would link Highway Ruta 5 Sur near Pargua with Chiloé near Chacao via two one-way lanes on each side. The bridge, which is designed for a lifespan of 100 years, would be resistant to winds over 240 km/h, magnitude 10 earthquakes (Richter scale) and strong sea currents.

[edit] Design and construction

Design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance was awarded for 30 years to the Chiloé Bicentennial Bridge Consortium, consisting of French company VINCI Construction Grand Projets, German company Hochtief, American Bridge Company and Chilean companies Besalco and Tecsa. Hochtief is overall leader, French company VINCI is technical lead, and American Bridge is contributing cable spinning and deck erection technology.

[edit] Advantages

Currently, the only way to reach Chiloé from the ground is by ferry, which takes about 25-45 minutes. With the bridge, the time would be reduced to less than three minutes travelling at a speed of 100 km/h.

[edit] Criticism

Supporters expected that the bridge would boost tourism and increase investment and business opportunities on the island. However, some inhabitants of Chiloé didn't agree and they claimed that the bridge was harmful and even dangerous.