PANAMA CANAL
The Panama Canal is undoubtedly the most important infrastructure of the American continent. It is ranked among the seven wonders of the modern world and is the only connection point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Initiated by the French in 1880 and continued by the US from 1903, it was officially inaugurated August 15 th 1914 with the passage from one ocean to the other of the steamer named Ancon.
Although retroceded to Panama in 1999, the Canal is still considered an inland waterway by the United States : It stipulates in the treaty of retrocession that US-flag vessels have right of way over the other vessels.
In 2013 the Canal generated 2,4 billion USD revenue, which represented a contribution in public accounts of US $ 982 million representing 6 % of country GDP.
Following an october 2006 referendum, Panama launches the Canal amplification, which consists of new set of locks construction.
This 5,4 billion USD investment project will be completed end of 2017. It will double the transit capacity and revenues.
THE ATLANTIC BRIDGE BY VINCI CONSTRUCTION
In November 2012, VINCI Construction Grands Projects won the contract to build the Atlantic Bridge in Panama. The project, carried out for the Panama Canal Authority (the government agency in charge of operating, maintaining, preserving and modernising the Canal), has a value of $366 million.
The world's longest cable-stayed concrete bridge.
The bridge will be located 3 km north of the Gatun locks, near the city of Colon. The contract covers construction of a 1,050 metre long cable-stayed concrete bridge carrying two lanes of traffic in each direction, with a central span of 530 metres and pylons with a height of 212.5 metres. It will have a vertical clearance of 75 metres above the canal. The Atlantic Bridge will be the world's longest concrete cable stayed bridge, with a central span of 530 metres..
It will notably allow passage of the largest container ships (Post-Panamax), in accordance with the canal expansion programme.
