Author: Luis Rodrigues

Last Friday (3rd), the Tereré and Maragogipinho Quilombola Community in Vera Cruz had a meeting with representatives from the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge Concessionaire and the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra). During this meeting, the Concessionaire presented the Quilombola Component Study (ECQ) that they had prepared. Additionally, the community members had the opportunity to gain more knowledge about the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge Highway System project.

It took approximately a year to prepare the ECQ until the results were consolidated and met the environmental requirements of the installation permit process, during which potential environmental and socio-cultural impacts were identified and classified. This process was carried out in collaboration with the residents of the two Quilombola communities. The study’s findings were used to propose mitigation programs, such as the Cultural Support Program and the Community-Based Tourism Support Program. 

The meeting concluded with the residents expressing their approval of the presented study and agreeing to proceed with the preparation of the Quilombola Basic Environmental Plan (PBAQ).

The Concessionaire in charge of the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge highway system has successfully finished another phase in the construction process. They have carried out geophysical studies to assess the morphology and soil properties of Baía de Todos os Santos. Furthermore, bathymetry, a process that determines the sea’s depth along the planned bridge route, was already completed by the end of last year.

The president of the Concessionaire, Cláudio Villas Boas, stated that the subsequent step would be to conduct a survey. He explained, “This task involves examining and verifying the geology of the land where the bridge’s foundation will be constructed. It’s crucial to ascertain the quality of the layers and the soil’s strength.”

The Salvador-Itaparica Bridge Highway System is composed of several parts: 4 km of access road in Bahia’s capital city, a 12.4 km bridge, and 30 km of access road on Itaparica Island, which includes the construction of a new highway.

In Salvador, the bridge will be built close to the ferry terminal, in the neighborhood of Água de Meninos, with a direct connection to the Via Expressa. In Vera Cruz, it will be located between Mar Grande and Gameleira.

The Salvador-Itaparica Bridge Concessionaire has achieved international recognition for its Quality Management System. The firm underwent an assessment based on the ISO 9001:2015 standard’s criteria, conducted by ABS Quality Evaluations, a subsidiary of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Group, which was established in 1862 in New York. The audit procedure encompassed an examination of the Concessionaire’s Quality Management System’s efficacy, with a focus on processes and products.

Rildo Gomes, the QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment) Manager for the concessionaire, states that the certification has a significant influence on various sectors of the company. He emphasizes, “This accomplishment is crucial for aligning our goals and objectives, ensuring transparency and uniformity in our internal processes, satisfying our employees and shareholders, and enhancing our competitiveness in the market.” Quality Management is a component of the Integrated Management System (IMS), a suite of tools that fosters a systemic perspective within the organization, guiding and managing processes to improve products and services.

The Concessionaire for the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge is in charge of building, maintaining, and operating the highway system. This system will serve as a link between Salvador’s metropolitan area, Recôncavo, and the Deep South of the state, providing benefits to approximately 10 million residents in Bahia.

The funding for this project is a result of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Government of Bahia, CR20 (China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation), and CCCC (China Communications Construction Company). These two business conglomerates are among the global leaders in the infrastructure and heavy construction industry. In 2020, their combined revenues were projected to be around US$252 billion. With a presence in over 170 countries, CR20 and CCCC have constructed seven out of the world’s ten most significant bridges, including the 55-kilometer oversea bridge that links Hong Kong and Macau in China.

The construction of the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge, a transversal vector of development in Bahia, promises significant benefits for various areas. Ambulances will now reach hospitals more swiftly, bypassing up to 280 kilometers of roads. Entrepreneurs are expected to invest in both the island and the Baixo Sul region, leading to job creation and increased income. Additionally, public security will receive a boost. Governor Rui Costa recently signed a contract with a Chinese consortium—comprising China Communications Construction Company (CCCC Ltd), CCCC South America Regional Company (CCCCSA), and China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation (CR20)—to undertake this transformative project.

The Secretary of State for Budget and Strategic Planning, Walter Pinheiro, emphasized that the project is more than just a bridge. It is a highway system. “It is important for the development of the Baixo-Sul (Deep South), for the issue of the BR 116, for the Eixo Oeste (west), for a whole freight and tourism route, for the development of the state as a whole”. Pinheiro also linked the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge to other major projects in the state. “We planned the key highways, the new bus terminal, and a whole process of growth in the development of the state. Now, the bridge is an integration of several cultural, tourist, economic factors and, above all, from the point of view of including a whole part of the State that has been isolated for many years”.

According to Fausto Franco, the Secretary of Tourism, the proposed bridge will be a boon not just for his department, but for the entire state of Bahia. “The bridge will be a game-changer, marking a pivotal moment in the state’s economic history. By spanning the Baía de Todos-os-Santos, it will significantly reduce the distance from the West, Baixo-Sul (Deep South) and South of the state to the capital”. Franco asserts that this will greatly enhance connectivity with the capital for tourist developments, not just on Itaparica Island, but also in Baixo-Sul (Deep South) and the South of the State. “I’m in daily contact with international businessmen who, encouraged by the imminent reality of the bridge, have already started investing in land. This will lead to job creation and income generation, tapping into the vast potential of the region.”

Franco emphasizes that the bridge will draw a large crowd, eager to explore Salvador, Itaparica Island, and other areas. “This is a great opportunity, arriving in Salvador on this great postcard that will be the bridge, seeing sights such as the Elevador Lacerda (Lacerda Elevator), the contrasting views of the upper and lower city, the numerous churches, the Forte de São Marcelo (São Marcelo Fort), the Farol da Barra (Barra Lighthouse), and the ships passing underneath.

Maurício Barbosa, the Secretary of Public Security, underscored that the bridge will enhance the security of the island’s residents and those in Baixo-Sul (Deep South). He gave an example of ATM robberies in the region, stating that the bridge would facilitate quicker deployment of the BOPE, eliminating the need to wait for a ferry crossing. “The bridge brings with it improved security. We are already in talks with several municipalities, including Vera Cruz and Itaparica, all of which will be directly affected. We will need to bolster our security measures to contribute to the economic growth of our state”.

(Source: Secom/Governo do Estado)

The Salvador-Itaparica Bridge Concessionaire shared the project’s construction specifics with the Federation of Industries of the State of Bahia (FIEB) board of directors. The meeting, which took place at the FIEB headquarters on Thursday afternoon (25), was also an opportunity to address the business community’s concerns about the project.

Cláudio Villas Boas, the Concessionaire’s CEO, stated that the Fieb meeting is one among a series of discussions being conducted with different segments of society. “The bridge is anticipated to play a pivotal role in Bahia’s socio-economic development in the years to come. Hence, it’s crucial to take into account and incorporate inputs from associations, professional bodies, and other segments of society”. In November, the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge Concessionaire showcased the project to the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy of Bahia (CREA), the Association of Directors of Companies in the Real Estate Market of Bahia (ADEMI), and the Dock Company of the State of Bahia (CODEBA).

Ricardo Alban, the president of FIEB, stated that the bridge project represents a significant social challenge for the development of the region of Itaparica Island. He expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “It’s a commendable initiative and we aim to be involved in the entire production process. The bridge will be a driving force for our industries in Bahia,” Alban concluded.

The project

The bridge will be built in the area of the ferry terminal in Salvador. It will have a direct connection to the Via Expressa. The project includes four kilometers of access roads in Salvador, a 12.4-kilometer bridge, and an additional 30 kilometers of access roads in Itaparica. The project also includes the construction of a new highway.

The public-private partnership (PPP) contract with the state government provides for a total concession period of 35 years. This includes five years for design, permits and construction, and 30 years of concession after completion of the project. It is expected that approximately seven thousand jobs will be created, both directly and indirectly.

In order to provide the general public with comprehensive and qualified information about the Salvador – Itaparica Bridge Highway system, the Concessionaire for the project has created an institutional website. At www.pontesalvadoritaparica.com.br , it is possible to learn more about the shareholders, the phases of the project and the benefits created by the project. An area has also been created where professionals interested in working on the project can send their résumé/CV for future opportunities only.

The concessionaire reinforces that there are no vacancies at this time and that the start of the selection process for various types of vacancies will be widely publicized in the press at the appropriate time.

This Wednesday (7th), the State Government deposited R$ 250 million in the Guarantee Fund for the construction of the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge (Western Highway System). This is part of the commitment signed in the contract that provides for the implementation over the next five years of one of the most emblematic Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in the country. The 12.4-kilometer-long facility, which will be the largest water bridge in Latin America, will involve an investment of R$ 5.4 billion and a total government contribution of R$ 1.5 billion.

The construction will be carried out by the consortium that won the tender held in 2020, formed by the companies China Communications Construction Company (CCCC Ltd), CCCC South America Regional Company (CCCCSA) and China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation (CR20). The project is expected to start at the end of 2021 and will last for four years.

The construction is expected to create approximately 8,000 jobs. The new structure will directly benefit 4.4 million people in the Salvador Metropolitan Region (RMS) and indirectly more than 5.4 million in 100 municipalities of Recôncavo and Baixo-Sul (Deep South) of Bahia.

According to a study conducted using World Bank methodology, once fully operational, this project is expected to generate a return on public investment of up to 3.6 times. According to Governor Rui Costa, this is a project that “will give a strong boost to the economy of the whole state, reducing distances and creating a new development axis from Salvador to the West, generating more income and more jobs for people in Bahia during and after the construction phase”.

The Structure

The bridge will have a four-lane highway with breakdown lanes and an 860m cable-stayed section. Once completed, the Chinese Consortium will be responsible for maintaining and managing the system for the next 30 years.

At the beginning of its operation, the bridge is expected to carry 28,000 vehicles per day. The bridge will be located in Salvador, in the neighborhood of Água de Meninos. On the island of Itaparica, the bridge approach will be located in the region of Gameleira.

PPP in Bahia

Including the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge, Bahia has nine ongoing PPP contracts and 40 administrative concessions, totaling more than R$15 billion invested. Among the most important ongoing PPP contracts are those for the Salvador-Lauro de Freitas metro and the Hospital do Subúrbio. The latter was the first PPP in the healthcare sector in Brazil and is now recognized as a project of excellence, having already received four international awards, including the United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA).

In addition to the ongoing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contracts in the Bahia, there are those for Diagnostic Imaging and the Couto Maia Institute, both in the health sector. Contracts also exist for the Fonte Nova Arena, the Salvador Submarine Outfall, the Light Rail Vehicle (VLT) in the Salvador suburb, and BA-052.

(Source: Secom/State Government)

Executives of CR20 and CRCC, two of the Chinese companies that make up the consortium that will build the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge, met this Wednesday (17th) with Deputy Governor João Leão, Secretary of Economic Development, and Marcus Cavalcanti, Secretary of Infrastructure. The meeting was used to address technical and bureaucratic issues necessary for the beginning of the project.

“We are confident that we will be able to start the construction work by the end of the year. The pandemic has disrupted the schedule, but Governor Rui Costa is committed to vaccinating all the people of Bahia. Together, we will defeat the corona virus and begin this important and structuring construction for the economic growth of our state, for the creation of jobs and for the integration of development with the cities in the interior of the state”, said Leão.

“Meetings like this allow us to monitor the process before executing the project, which is also important. The people of Bahia will soon be able to follow the progress of the Salvador-Itaparica Island Bridge, which will allow the State to grow and become more developed,” stressed Marcus Cavalcanti.

Fonte: Ascom/SDE