Construction of Chile's Chacao bridge to begin in coming weeks

Construction of Chile's long delayed Chacao bridge will begin in October or November, starting with the installation of the structure's first piles, according to the project lead, Horacio Pfeiffer, who was speaking at a meeting of infrastructure policy council CPI.

"The first piling tests will begin during the last quarter of this year, with tests that will verify the terrain conditions and ensure quality," Pfeiffer was quoted as saying by local daily Pulso.

As for the overall schedule, the head of the project said that the first phase of the design of the US$740mn bridge is complete, while the second will be delivered by the end of this year to public works ministry MOP.

Finally, Pfeiffer said that once the complementary engineering is complete, which should be done by early 2018, the consortium in charge of the works will present a new timetable. He added that works are now expected to be finished by 2021.

The project involves a 2.5km suspension bridge to link the town of Chacao, on the island of Chiloé, with the town of Pargua on the mainland, in southern Los Lagos region (X).