One of Latin America’s largest urban road infrastructure projects

OHLA completes the deck of the El Salto viaduct, integrated into the Américo Vespucio Expressway in Chile

October 5, 2021

OHLA has reached a new milestone in the construction project of the Américo Vespucio Expressway (AVO) in Chile through Constructora Vespucio Oriente (CVO). The work includes the completion of El Salto viaduct deck, integrated into AVO, and whose works have been developed in the commune of Huechuraba on the existing highway in operation. The project is already more than 80% complete, and at least 370 of the more than 3,500 workers who are involved on this project collaborated in the execution of this section, in day and night shifts with cuts on weekends.

OHLA has reached a new milestone in the construction project of the Américo Vespucio Expressway (AVO) in Chile through Constructora Vespucio Oriente (CVO). The work includes the completion of El Salto viaduct deck, integrated into AVO, and whose works have been developed in the commune of Huechuraba on the existing highway in operation. The project is already more than 80% complete, and at least 370 of the more than 3,500 workers who are involved on this project collaborated in the execution of this section, in day and night shifts with cuts on weekends.

The 1,413 m long viaduct is made up of 27 spans between 32 and 50 m long in its main axis and a 204 m long branch with 5 spans that joins as a pair of trousers with the main road, for the transition from four to three lanes. The width is variable, between 8.7 m and 18.2 m, corresponding to the sections of two and four lanes respectively. The cant, the transverse inclination, reaches a maximum of 8%.

It is a mixed structure, with a metal box on which a reinforced concrete slab and 8 cm deep pre-slabs were executed as cooperative formwork. The foundation laying is made up of footings and pile caps. It has the uniqueness of having earthquake-proof anchor bars and supports.

As a “special” structure, one of the support frames was built “in situ”, its 170,000 kg being hoisted with a 750-tm crane to later concretize and post-tension the structure on site. The heaviest metal box-girder section was 91 tons and two 500-ton telescopic cranes were used for lifting.

As a unique structure, one of the support frames was built on site, its 170,000 kg weight being hoisted with a 750 t crane. Subsequently, concreting and post-tensioning of the structure was carried out on site. The heaviest metal box girder section was 91 t and two 500 t telescopic cranes were used for lifting. Likewise, 2,682,138 kg of structural steel have been used in the beams, 1,753,045 kg of passive steel and 9,600 m3 of concrete in foundations, elevations, heads and slabs, as well as 15,696 m2 of reinforced concrete pre-slabs.