Cross-Border Bridge in Sixaola
PROGRESS TO UNITE THE REGION
In a globalized world like the one we live in, communication routes between countries are part of an infrastructure that could not be called otherwise but as essential. The cross-border bridge over the Sixaola River, built by Costa Rica and Panama, is one of those vital works for the economic and social development of both countries.
The bridge is 260 meters long with two lanes (one lane per direction), pedestrian and bicycle access ramps, as well as lighting, drainage and signaling systems.
DETAILS OF A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP
For this specific project
, Meco became part of the Sixaola Binational Consortium, made up of Constructora Meco, Cal & Mayor y Asociados and MEXPRESA, both Mexican companies.
The total investment was $US 25,000,000, of which $US 10,000,000 are part of a non-reimbursable contribution from the Mesoamerican and Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (50% for Costa Rica and 50% for Panama), with an additional compensation of $US 7.5 million per country. The project was managed by UNOPS.
The bridge is an essential part of the International Mesoamerican Highways Network program, part of the Mesoamerican Integration and Development Project, which aims to strengthen safe traffic, as well as tourism and commercial activities in the region.
TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
Finally
, it is important to highlight that the environmental axis of this project offered an invaluable opportunity to strengthen its environmental efforts and to get closer to the local communities.
Reason why, some concrete actions were carried out during the bridges’ construction. Among them: educational talks and awareness raising on environmental issues; the daily collection of waste produced in the project area and separation into ordinary waste, recycling materials, scrap metal, wood and hydrocarbons; immediate treatment with anti-spill kits and bioremediation of any hydrocarbon spill produced by the project equipment and machinery; the rescue and relocation of endangered fauna within the project area and the periodic monitoring of the physical and biological environment: noise, water quality, terrestrial fauna and aquatic fauna.