Atlantic Bridge, Panama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atlantic Bridge |
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The bridge in August 2019
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| Coordinates | 9°18′29″N 79°55′07″W / 9.30796°N 79.91863°W |
| Carries | Four lanes of traffic, pedestrians and bicycles |
| Crosses | Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal |
| Locale | Colón, Panama |
| Owner | Panama Canal Authority |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | double-pylon, double-plane cable-stayed bridge |
| Material | Prestressed concrete |
| Total length | 2,820 m (9,250 ft) |
| Height | 212.5 m (697 ft) |
| Longest span | 530 m (1,740 ft) |
| Number of spans | 3 (230, 530, 230 m) |
| Piers in water | 1 |
| Clearance below | 75 m (246 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | HPDI and Louis Berger Group |
| Constructed by | Vinci Construction Grands Projets |
| Construction begin | January 2013 |
| Construction end | August 2019 |
The Atlantic Bridge is a big road bridge in Colón, Panama. It crosses the Atlantic entrance to the famous Panama Canal. This bridge was finished in 2019.
It is the third bridge to cross the Panama Canal. The other two, the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge, are on the Pacific side. This makes the Atlantic Bridge special as the only one on the Atlantic side.
The bridge is a cable-stayed bridge. This means it has strong cables that hold up the bridge deck from tall towers called pylons. It has two pylons and two sets of cables. The main part of the bridge is 530 metres (1,740 ft) long. It also has two side parts, each 230 metres (750 ft) long. The bridge was designed by China Communication Construction Company and built by Vinci Construction.
What the Bridge Does
The Atlantic Bridge helps connect different areas. It is part of a local road that links the Bolivar Highway in the east to the western side. This bridge also takes the place of the old Panama Canal Ferry. It is the only bridge that crosses the canal north of the Culebra Cut.
Building the Bridge
Many companies wanted to build this important bridge. Three groups were chosen to bid for the project. These groups included companies from Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Korea, and France. They sent in their offers in August 2012.
In October 2012, the Panama Canal Authority chose a French company called Vinci Construction. They won the contract to build the bridge. Their offer was for about US$366 million. At first, the bridge didn't have a name. People called it the "Third bridge" or "Atlantic side bridge" before it got its official name, the Atlantic Bridge.
Work on the bridge started in January 2013. It was planned to take about three and a half years to build. The main part of the bridge was connected on September 6, 2018. The bridge was officially opened on August 2, 2019. Panama's President, Laurentino Cortizo, and the Panama Canal Administrator, Jorge Quijano, were there for the opening.
Images for kids
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Western side of Atlantic Bridge during construction (19 March 2018)
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Construction workers on Atlantic Bridge (1 February 2018)
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Atlantic Bridge during construction (1 February 2018)
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Atlantic Bridge during construction (19 March 2018)
See also
In Spanish: Puente Atlántico para niños
- List of bridges in Panama
