Description
With the goal of boosting economic development in the southeastern region of Colombia, the most ambitious construction project in the country’s entire history was undertaken. Dubbed “Motorways for Prosperity”, the project comprises an extensive infrastructure designed to reduce transit times for almost 260,000 people.
In order to complete one of the most difficult sections of the project, ULMA was called upon to build a viaduct measuring 34 m in height and 250 m in length.
ULMA Solution
CVS carriages were proposed as a solution, given that local orography prevented falsework from being reliably supported on the ground.
The double-carriageway viaduct is 34 m tall with a symmetrical cross-section 10.3 m wide, thickness varying between 2 m and 6 m, straight sidewalls, and a slight curve at one end. Each deck is supported by two piers with a maximum span of 125 m between them.
ULMA supplied four 10.3 m wide carriages designed to support a maximum load of 200 t each. The efficiency and speed of this system was crucial in the reduction of the estimated completion time.
The CVS carriages began at opposite ends of the span – at pier segment 0 – on both carriageways, and advanced simultaneously toward each other. They moved in 5 m segments with week-long pouring cycles until meeting in the middle and completing the 2 m keystone segment.
All carriages offered working platforms and access systems for all work areas, maintaining strict conformity to the highest safety standards.
