Improvement of the navigation conditions on the Magdalena River

Project description

The Colombian government has given priority to the improvement of the navigation conditions on the Magdalena River, as an alternative to the more expensive road infrastructure projects.

The project is a concession to a private investor (NAVELENA) who is responsible for the designs, construction and maintenance of the waterway. The project will allow navigation on the Magdalena river over a length of 908km between the mouth of the river at Barranquilla and upstream inland Puerto Salgar. The civil works comprise dredging activities in 650 km between Barranquilla and Barrancabermeja, in addition to works in 256 km with bank protection and river training works.
With this investment, the Colombian government expects to increase the transported cargo in the river per year from 1.5 to 6 million.
 

Service description

TORGUN performed the project management and also expertise support for the technical assistance during the execution of the studies and designs:

• Follow-up of the team responsible for the detailed design of the waterway;
• Contact with the client;
• Review of the design (including 2D numerical modelling (hydrodynamics and sediment transport), waterway alignment, navigation aspects, geotextiles, hydraulic structures);
• Revision of the predesign verifying the proposed dredging alternatives.