Authority Starts Bid Process For Lock Work in Panama
Late last month, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) opened the bid process for the $3.35-billion locks portion of the ongoing massive expansion of the historic waterway The “design-build” contracts will include construction of two new sets of locks that will open the waterway to the massive post-Panamax ships that currently cannot use the canal because they will not fit through the existing locks. The entire $5.25-billion expansion is expected to double the capacity of the waterway when it is completed in 2014.
The first round of the bid process approved four consortia comprising 30 companies: Consorcio C.A.N.A.L. led by ACS Servicios, Comunicaciones y Energía, S.L. of Spain; Consorcio Atlántico-Pacífico de Panamá led by Bouygues Travaux Publics of France; Bechtel, Taisei, Mitsubishi Corp., led by U.S.-based Bechtel Internacional Inc. and Grupo Unidos por el Canal, led by Spanish company Sacyr Vallehermoso S.A. The $5.25-billion expansion project will add a new lane of traffic with larger sets of locks at each end of the canal.
Multinational engineering and construction consultant CH2M Hill is overseeing the expansion project. The Denver–based firm was named project manager in August. Subcontractors on the team include DHV Group, Grupo TYPSA, CSA Group and Earth Consultants International.