Chile’s Cau Cau bridge is to be rebuilt

The tender process for Chile’s Cau Cau Bridge rebuilding project is due to be opened in August 2016. The bascule type bridge is the first in Chile to feature a lifting system and was supposed to have been completed in 2014. However, a number of major components were installed incorrectly resulting in the lifting system being inoperative. The bridge is located in the town of Valdiva, some 840km to the south of capital Santiago. The crossing spans the Cau Cau River and connects Valdivia with Teja Island. The bridge originally cost around US$30 million to construct but following the errors made during its erection, a legal case has been pursued against the contractor, Azvi, by the client, Chile’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP). The improvements to the bridge are likely to cost some $15.27 million. The mistakes made in the original construction work were the focus for some criticism in Chile. The two lifting sections of the bridge both measure 45m long and weigh around 720tonnes apiece.