The Works to open up the Deusto canal began today

This morning the works to completely open up the Deusto Canal and to build the new bridge, which will join Deusto to Zorrotzaurre, began.

The two operations, which will be carried out simultaneously over a period of 16 months, are to be undertaken by the consortium formed by Exbasa, Viuda de Sáinz, Balzola and Urssa. Management of the works is to be carried out by TYPSA (the building Project designer) and Dinam Ingeniería. The estimated cost of the works stands at 21.5 million Euros (VAT included).

The simultaneous construction projects will be carried out under dry conditions.

The opening up of the canal will consist, basically, of the construction of two new parallel riverbank quays (533 metres on the north bank and 369 metres on the south bank), 75 metres apart and which will require 600 piles. Excavation will give a depth of between 5 and 5.5 metres to the canal in that area and will require the removal of 365,000 m3 of earth that will be transported out by ship and lorry. Depending on the level of contamination the earth will be used to fill in the extension of the Port of Bilbao or will be taken to the relevant authorised tip.

The new bridge, 75 metres long and with an average width of 28 metres will join the island to Deusto (alongside the IMQ Zorrotzaurre Hospital). It will have dual carriageway in both directions and pavements on both sides, one with a cycle path.

Phases of the Works

The schedule is for the first month to be spent fencing in the site, rerouting certain services (especially gas and electricity) to allow supply to Zorrotzaurre to continue during the works and the provisional road diversion next to the IMQ Hospital which will allow the start on the north side of the bridge in Deusto without affecting the traffic. The next 9-month phase is the most complex.

The bridge will be completed and most of the excavation will take place. Before the excavation begins, lines of horizontal metal panels will be hammered into the ground at both ends of the canal to ensure no water flows from the river or the canal into the excavation area.

In the penultimate 3-month phase, the area that could not be included in the previous phase due to the proximity to the roads in service during the previous phases will be dealt with. The piles and the excavation (but not the earth ridges) will be finished.

In the final 3-month phase, the final maritime excavation and the excavation of the furthest ridges will take place before removing the panels which will allow the water to enter and create the definitive island of Zorrotzaurre.