The new Tolemaida bridge is now in operation for users of the BOGOTÁ-GIRARDOT

Press Release 

October 02, 2023 

The new Tolemaida bridge is already available for the users of the BOGOTÁ- GIRARDOT ROAD 

• This WORK OF engineering consisted of replacing the old metal structure for a totally new one with a higher level of service and safety.  

• The construction of this new bridge had an innovative engineering process that consisted of using the previous structure to install the new one which was preassembled at the builder’s production plant.  

• During these 5 months of construction, the Concession implemented a mobility plan in the zone which allowed the community and the users of the road to continue travelling fluidly.  

After approximately five months of work, the Concession in charge of the BOGOTÁ- GIRARDOT ROAD made available for the users the new Tolemaida bridge, which now has  higher levels of safety and a faster flow for those who wish to enter or exit the municipality of Melgar, thanks to an innovative building process with innovative techniques that allowed for faster building times.  

The new Tolemaida bridge, which is built from metal beams and 61 prefabricated  concrete slabs, was installed using the previous structure as a guide in order to make the building process faster. Once the new structured was placed, the process was inverted, using the new structure as a guide to remove the old bridge, which was delivered to the National Road Institute, INVÍAS, in Bogotá. 

This innovative technique used in the Project allowed for the board of the new bridge to be prefabricated in one of the yards of the builder located in the Novilleros sector in Fusagasugá, where they produced 61 of the required slabs, which were subsequently taken to and installed at the site. The 2 other slabs were made onsite. During this process, the builder worked double shift son the installation and protection of the bridges lower foundations.  

It is worth noting that the Works done to build assemble the new bridge required additional time in order to ensure the quality of the manual welding, considering that it is a large structure (it weighs approximately 270 tons). Accordingly, in order to lift both bridges, the builder rigorously met the strict safety measures recommended by specialists.  

The new Tolemaida bridge is 75 meters long, and it offers the users higher levels of safety, as it is compliant with the current Colombian regulations for first-tier roads. The new structure, unlike the previous one which was more than 50 years old, also has a safe sidewalk for pedestrians and a lateral structure formed by New Jersey-type concrete blocks to prevent impacts on the structure in case of a road accident. Also, the bridge is now higher above the river, preventing the water from striking and prematurely deteriorating the bridge.  

In addition to the higher levels of safety, the new bridge also offers better service levels, as the width of the lane was extended as well as the turn radius at the exit from Melgar to Bogotá, which makes it easier for drivers. The new bridge allows heavy vehicles to transit without restriction, while the old one allowed them to transit only one at a time.  

“We are proud to have completed the construction of the new Tolemaida bridge. We are aware of the importance of this Project for the inhabitants of Melgar and for the tourists that come to visit this municipality. Now, they will be able to enter and exit faster and in a safer manner,” said José Daniel Fernández, Technical Manager of the Concession. 

During these months of construction, the Concession implemented a mobility plan in the zone which allowed the community and the users of the road to continue travelling fluidly along the Melgar bypass and to enter the municipality through alternate roads such as the entrance of the municipality’s bus terminal.  

The Concession will continue to work with total commitment to complete Functional Unit 1, which goes from San Rafael to El Paso and from Girardot to the Sumapaz Tunnel, over the next few days, including the current Melgar bypass, with works that include the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of the road, as well as the construction of pedestrian bridges, stabilization of slopes, construction and improvement of bikeways, reinforcement and construction of vehicle bridges, among other activities. The works of the BOGOTÁ-GIRARDOT ROAD are beyond 35% of their progress.