ULMA formwork for large-scale infrastructure in the Philippines
With a total length of 8.25 km and a width of 27 m, the Cebu—Cordova Link Expressway will have two lanes in each direction, serving some 40,000 vehicles daily.
The largest element of the project is a 650-meter cable-stayed bridge, with a main span of 390 meters between the pylons, linking the cities of Cebu and Cordova. The project will also include several viaducts, as well as a 5.2 kilometre-long stretch of roadway built on an embankment.
The project consists of two 150 m octagonal pylons, varied on all faces. The ATR Self-Climbing System not only adapted to the height and geometry of the pylons, but also to the presence of a 50 m high ornamental metal cross embedded in the concrete, a tribute to Magellan's arrival in Cebu.
The comprehensiveness of the ATR System allowed the crane to be used for other auxiliary works, such as rebar placement.
All systems were designed to ensure the ease and safety of work, as well as the productivity of the entire construction process. In fact, fully enclosed work platforms were designed so that it was possible to carry out the work even in extreme wind conditions, typical of the area.
The work processes were planned so as to improve the pace of execution: 5 metre pours in weekly cycles.
The following phase consisted in installing the stay cables that connect the two pylons to the bridge deck. For this purpose, ULMA supplied BMK platforms to facilitate the work of placing and tensioning the cables during Phase 3 of the pylon construction.
In order to connect the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) to the main bridge, a pier cap support beam with demanding technical specifications was required. ULMA's engineering team proposed a solution based on the MK System to implement a 45 m long square section beam supported on two piers and with cantilevers up to 8.3 m.
ULMA personnel were present continually throughout the project, accompanying the client on a daily basis from the very beginning, providing solutions in real time to any technical questions that arose.
