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| Mota-Engil in Angola in the final stage of the Catumbela Bridge  A part of the Benguela – Lobito expressway, which is now nearing conclusion by Portugal's largest construction company Mota-Engil, the bridge over the Catumbela River is presently under construction in the town of the same name. The construction contract, in the sum of €26,169, 785, was entrusted to a consortium headed by Mota-Engil. The job consignment took place in September 2006. Although the contractual start date was May 2007, work on site began in January 2007, involving a preliminary soundings campaign and the setting up of the building yard.The bridge under construction was designed by Amado Rito, a renowned Portuguese engineer. The total length of 438 metres comprises a cable-stayed bridge across the bed of the river and two access viaducts lending structural continuity to the deck of the bridge. There will be two traffic lanes in each direction, one 3.30 and the other 3.50 metres, with 1.20-metre shoulders. The total width of 24.50 metres also allows for two pedestrian footpaths with a useful width of 1.50 metres, security sections and guardrails. Access to the bridge proper is by two continuous viaducts that have current spans of 30 metres and lengths of 90 metres and 60 metres. The decks of these viaducts connecting up with Benguela and Lobito are being built span by span on trestles resting on the ground. In the definition of the geometry, besides considerations of a structural nature, particular care was taken with the aesthetical aspect in that the bridge is located in a major urban growth area, practically inside Catumbela. The U-shaped suspension piers were designed to enhance the bridge aesthetically. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |