Guaratuba Bridge works progress in Paraná

Work on the Guaratuba Bridge, on the coast of Paraná, continues to progress with 11% of its structure completed, according to a report released by the state government. Over the last month, the project teams have been concentrating on assembling the pile frames, splicing the metal jackets, as well as driving, excavating and concreting the piles on the shore of Guaratuba Bay.

There are more than 300 employees working on this stage of the construction, out of an expected total of around 700 at the peak of the work. In total, 64 piles weighing around 470 tons will be fixed along the route, most of them in the water. In June, seven piles were installed, with a total of three supports completed in the infrastructure.

“The challenges for the execution of the Guaratuba Bridge are enormous because it is currently the most important work of the Government of Paraná, as it has been awaited by the population for at least 40 years,” said Luciano Pizzatto, Contract Director of the OEC responsible for the work.

The director also explained some of the main challenges faced by the consortium so far. “The issuance of the Installation License, which includes the assistance program for the traditional communities affected by the bridge; the preparation of the Executive Project with less environmental impact and integrated into the Guaratuba Bay region; and the search for local hiring, which today accounts for 75% of the mobilized workforce. What’s more, we have 24 months to deliver the work,” he says.

Campaigns are underway to monitor the region’s fauna and flora. The aim is to identify the species of birds and plants that live around the construction site in order to propose measures to reduce the negative impacts on these populations as a result of possible environmental changes.

When finished, the structure will have two lanes in each direction, as well as two safety lanes. The project also includes rigid concrete barriers to prevent accidents, sidewalks with bike lanes and guardrails at the ends.