Panama & Costa Rica: New Bridge Over Border

Posted on 2018-06-27

Panama and Costa Rica began work on the construction of the new bridge over the Sixaola River on the border between the two countries, which will allow better communication and transportation. With the validation of the design, work began on the Binational bridge that will be in charge of the Sixaola Binational Consortium, composed of the companies Constructora Meco of Costa Rica and the Mexican companies Cal y Mayor Asociados and MEXPRESA, with an investment of US $ 17.5 million

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the executing agency of the project, which along with the Ministry of Public Works of Panama, closely monitor its progress. As part of this project, progress is being made in dismantling the old structure, registering 85%. The new structure will have a length of 260 meters, with capacity for two lanes (one per circulation direction), as access ramps for pedestrians and cyclists, and will be equipped with lighting, drainage and signaling systems, both horizontal and vertical. In parallel, a consistent one is built on a provisional platform on which the equipment will operate during the construction phase of the new bridge and the personnel in charge of the development of the work, which is 90% complete.

In addition, work is being done to rescue sections of the old railway bridge, which, due to their age, fell off into the waters of the Sixaola River. As part of the start of the work of the new bridge, the construction of reinforcing reinforcement for the support piles is advanced. To facilitate coordination and expedite the works, a procedure was approved that seeks to regulate the operational movement in the border area between Panama and Costa Rica, allowing the proper functioning of migration services, customs, and phytosanitary offices. The offices of these dependencies are in a phase of relocation.

This work will be built thanks to the non-reimbursable contribution of the Mesoamerican Infrastructure Fund for an amount of US $ 10 million (50% corresponding to Costa Rica and the other 50% to Panama), an additional counterpart of US $ 7.5 million, distributed equally between the Costa Rican and Panamanian governments.

Source: AN Panama