The Salvador-Itaparica Cross-Sea Bridge project in Bahia, Brazil, constructed by a Chinese enterprise, officially commenced construction on the 1st local time.
According to China News Service, this cross-sea bridge is one of Brazil’s largest infrastructure projects. The total length of the project is 46.8 kilometers, including a 12.4-kilometer, dual six-lane cross-sea bridge, a 4.2-kilometer Salvador road connection system, and a 30.2-kilometer Itaparica Island road system. The cross-sea bridge will adopt a cable-stayed design with a main span of 682 meters and a deck clearance height of 85 meters, setting multiple world records for engineering construction and ensuring the safe passage of large vessels and cruise ships. Once completed, it will become the longest cross-sea bridge in Latin America.
After the project is put into operation, the average daily traffic volume is expected to be about 28,000 vehicles. The travel time between Salvador and Vera Cruz will be significantly reduced from the current one hour by ferry to just 15 minutes, completely transforming the region's logistics landscape. It will also drive new investment in tourism, industry, commerce, and logistics, benefiting millions of local residents.
The project is being invested in, constructed, operated, and maintained by Salvador-Itaparica Island Bridge and Road System Concession Co., Ltd., a consortium jointly formed by four shareholders: China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited), China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Co., Ltd., the International Engineering Branch of China Communications Construction Company Limited, and CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. The concession contract is for a period of 35 years.