Skip to main content

Cemex develops Colombia bridge ready-mix concrete

Published by , Digital Assistant Editor
World Cement,


Cemex has delivered 100% of the ready-mix concrete for Colombia’s longest bridge, which is a key element of four new alternative transportation routes that will benefit multiple sectors and make travel shorter in the Huila department.

The El Quimbo Hydroelectric project in Colombia’s Huila department includes an environmental management plan that called for the repositioning of the physical infrastructure that was affected during the duration of construction. Cemex supplied 100% of the ready-mix concrete for the development of these alternative routes, encompassing approximately 37 000 m3 of tailor-made ready-mix concrete and prefabricated concrete beams.

The four routes, collectively 13 km long, were comprised of nine bridges. The tropical Huila state in southern Colombia experiences high year-round temperatures and is susceptible to the El Niño phenomenon. Cemex’s expertise came into play when it became clear that basic ready-mix concrete would not suffice for this project. After multiple tests, Cemex developed a specialty high-strength ready-mix concrete that could sustain heavy loads and the effects of the Magdalena River.

“The right formula with the specific qualities necessary for this project couldn’t be achieved at just any plant or with just any aggregates or additives,” said Carlos Jacks, Chief Executive Officer of Cemex Latam Holdings. “Our ability to innovate is what differentiates us. It was through our innovation that we contributed to the construction of one of the most important infrastructure projects in Colombia.”

Monica Polanco, Commercial Leader for Cemex in Colombia supervising this project, remarked: “In order to satisfy the tight deadlines, the ready-mix concrete supplied was designed to have quick-drying qualities, drying in less than three hours.”

One of the key bridges, the El Balseadero Viaduct is 1.7 km long.

Edited from press release by

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/18052016/cemex-develops-special-ready-mix-concrete-2512/

You might also like

 
 

Embed article link: (copy the HTML code below):