Chacao Bridge Project

The Chacao Bridge is a 2.75km-long bridge being built by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) of Chile. Upon completion, it is claimed to become the longest suspension bridge in South America.

Linking the Island of Chiloé with mainland Chile through the Chacao Channel, the new bridge will reduce the travel time to less than three minutes by replacing the present ferry service, which takes up to 45 minutes to cross the channel.

The project aims to improve the quality of life, business and tourism in the Island of Chiloé and the port city of Puerto Montt. The bridge is also expected to catalyse the development of large-scale projects in the region.

Construction of the suspension bridge was initiated in 2014 and is scheduled for completion in 2020.

Chacao bridge design and features
The multi-span suspension bridge will have two main spans of 1,055m and 1,155m, as well as two suspended side spans of 216m and 324m respectively. It will be based on pile foundations, of which one is positioned in the middle of the strait on a reef and the others onshore.

The bridge will feature three concrete towers, with an inverted Y-shaped central tower measuring 175m-high. The remaining two towers will be 157m and 199m-high respectively.

The bridge will feature an orthotropic box girder deck, one central shoulder and two exterior shoulders while its superstructure will be made of steel.

The bridge will have the capacity to accommodate four traffic lanes. The rock formation in the middle of the 120m-deep channel provides a base for the mid-channel. The new bridge is estimated to have a lifespan of more than 100 years.

The project will include three different segments, including the suspension bridge, access roads, and service area.

(2021) Chacao Bridge Project – Northern Pylon, design and construction
The North Pier is one of the three of the Puente Chacao project in Chile; this pier consists of 18 piles, 9 per two blocks.
For this pier, two types of technologies were adopted for the first time in Chile: firstly, the insertion and driving of casings with a diameter of 2650 mm, with a total length of 59 m and a total weight of 180 tons.
The second technology adopted for the excavation of the piles was reverse circulation with Wirth, using polymers, for a total length of 90m.
This was certainly a very important challenge for Trevi; remarkable goals were achieved, meeting a tight schedule, demonstrating once again the technical and organisational skills that distinguish our way of tackling the most demanding challenges, even during a global pandemic.

(2021) Chacao Bridge project – Central Pylon

(2021) Chacao Bridge project – Southern Pylon

Chacao Bridge

(2015) Chacao Bridge (Samsung C&T ECA)

Sinking of the Tornagaleones catamaran, in the construction of the Chacao Bridge, Chile (02/13/2021)

Chacao Bridge – 2016 Be Inspired Winning Presentation – Innovation in Bridges
Chile’s Ministry of Public Works is using Bentley’s RM Bridge to complete the longest suspension bridge in South America.

Construccion Puente Chacao (March 2020)

Ship traffic at Chacao channel Chile December 2016
Safetec has performed a ship collision study for Chacao Bridge. The bridge is planned to be built over Chacao channel in 2019. This video shows ship traffic in the area from December 2016.