MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013
Designed to last 120 years, a monstrous bridge project in China recently announced the coatings supplier for the main portion of work.
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A coating contract worth $18.23 million was recently awarded for the main portion of a mega-bridge project in China, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. |
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will be a mega-bridge over the waters of Lingdingyang of Pearl River Estuary, linking the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Zhuhai City of Guangdong Province and Macao Special Administrative Region 1.
COSCO Kansai Paint & Chemicals Co., Ltd. was recently awarded the coatings procurement contract for the main span of the bridge, which is the largest coatings project of HZMB. The contract is worth ¥111.8 million ($18.23 million USD).
The bridge is necessary to meet the demand of passenger and freight land transport among the areas to enhance economic and sustainable development.
A Lot of Paint
Over the next three years, the company will supply anti-corrosion coatings, participate in quality control and provide technical support during construction.
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When construction broke ground, it was called "one of the country's most technically complicated engineering projects" by the media. The bridge is expected to open in 2016. |
The coated steel-box girder for the project needs a total of 3.85 million liters (approximately 2,600 tonnes) of coatings, according to COSCO Kansai, who will supply about 55 percent of that.
The section that COSCO Kansai was awarded amounts to approximately 3.15 million square meters. Because of the long design life, "requirements for protection of coating are stringent," the company said in a press release.
Artificial Islands, Underwater Tunnels
The proposed bridge consists of a main bridge in mainland waters with boundary crossing facilities and linking roads in three places.
The HZMB Main Bridge runs from one artificial island to another before entering into a tunnel section. This portion includes a 29.6 km (18.39 miles) dual three-lane roadway; the tunnel portion is 6.7 km (4.16 miles) long. The main section will include three cable-stayed spans.
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Building the bridge requires construction of artificial islands, which will connect an underwater tunnel. |
The three regions are paying a total of ¥15.73 billion ($2.56 billion USD) for construction costs. The reported total cost for "one of the country's most technically complicated engineering projects," could run up to $10.7 billion USD, the Wall Street Journal reported when construction broke ground.
The total length of the project, from east to west boundary crossing facilities, is 42 km (26.09 miles).
The HZMB is being built with a 120-year design life—currently the world's longest design life for bridges. Construction of the bridge started in December 2009 and is expected to be completed in 2016.
Tagged categories: Bridges; Contracts; Life expectancy; Program/Project Management
