Coatzacoalcos Tunnel, Mexico

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No. 04.09 - March 2009 Infrastructure Projects

Road Tunnel

Sika® ViscoCrete® SolutionThe economic Sika solution was based on Sika® ViscoCrete®- 2100. This technology with its high water reducing capability of-fered a powerful liquefaction at the low water/ cement ratio of 0.4 in conjunction with sufficient slump life with a dosage of 0.7 by weight of cement. Moreover the hardened concrete requirements regarding compressive strength and water penetration under pressure were fulfilled.Additionally Sika offered technical on site support with a mobile con-crete laboratory, which opened the opportunity to characterize aggre-gates, carry out mix design optimisation, control concrete performance of laboratory and plant trials as well as determine the best admixtures to be used. Based on the significant flowability of the fresh concrete a very high precast concrete element quality could be obtained and a fast and easy concrete installation was achieved despite the intricate reinforcement. Last but not least a smooth surface appearance was accomplished with the application of Sika’s mould release agent tech-nology Sika® Separol® in combination with Sika’s curing agent Sika® Antisol®.

ProjectThe Coatzacoalcos River Tunnel is a 1.6 km long tunnel connecting the Petrochemical Industrial Zone of “Villa Allende” with the port of Coatzacoalcos, located at the Gulf of Mexico. This engineering project is without precedent in Mexico and throughout Latin America and it has a projected duration from 2007 until spring 2010.

The Coatzacoalcos River Tunnel is a 1.6 km long tunnel connecting the Petrochemical Industrial Zone of “Villa Allende” with the port of Coatzacoalcos, located at the Gulf of Mexico.

by Miguel Angel Taboada, Sika Mexicana S.A.

RequirementsDue to the fact that the tunnel is located in the Coatzacoalcos River, watertight concrete was specified with a water/cement ratio of 0.4, which has to comply with EN 12390-8 “Depth of penetration of water under pressure”. Furthermore the dimensions of these precast tunnel elements are extremely massive leading to strict restriction of the fresh concrete temperature of not more than 25°C.

One part of the tunnel is constructed with submerged precast concrete sink elements, which are build in a dry dock next to the sinking site. This part represents 690 m of the tunnel, located in the river bed, consisting of five concrete sink elements with impressive dimensions- 138 m long, 25 m wide and 9.2 m high. The tunnel will offer 4 lanes for cars and the concrete volume sums up to a total of 180.000 m³, 80.000 m³ being applied for the precast concrete sink elements.

GULF OF MEXICO

Sika Services AGCorporate Business Unit ConcreteTüffenwies 16CH-8048 ZürichSwitzerlandPhone +41 58 436 40 40Fax +41 58 436 47 29www.sika.com

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Project ParticipantsOwner: Veracruz State GovernmentProject Management: Grupo Básico MexicanoContractor: Constructora Túnel Coatzacoalcos (joint venture between FCC Spain, Impulsa Mexico, OPC Mexico)Consultants: Royal Boskalis Westinster NV, Tunnel Engineering Consultants, Volker Stevin.Sika´s Customer: Concret Procesos (Impulsa subsidiary)Project Responsible: Jorge Winckler, Concrete Product Engineer