The Vitoria fourth link adoptingthe immersed tunnel solution
João Renato R. Prandina
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
ABSTRACT
The growth of the cities is followed by demands for new urban infrastructures which are responsible to allow its sustainable economic growth and ensure quality of life. The road network is remarkable as one of the main infrastructures which assures mobility for the citizens and modes of transportation.Vitória is the capital city of Espírito Santo (ES), one of the most important states in Brazil considering its harbor areas. Alone, it exports more than 60% of the iron ore, more than 75% of the ornamental stone exported of the country, and it has become the second in petroleum production, with an average of 355,000 barrels per day (Petrobras, 2015), having only 3.3 of the 205 million Brazilian inhabitants.This intenseeconomic scenario leads to a much greater GDP than the national average. Vitória is an island, densely populated (very small area), and has been demandingnew road connections for its neighbour cities: Vila Velha and Cariacica, both part of the conurbation of its grater urban area. For the so called fourth connection betweenVitória and Cariacica, the local government disclosed a conceptual bridge project, 36 m wide and 1,4 km length. However, neither ES nor Vitória have a great tradition in tunnel construction for road infrastructure.Kneib & Prandina (2004) presented an immersed tunnel proposal between Vitória and Vila Velha and Prandina (2014) presented his conceptual tunnel solutions for the improvements of the Vitória’slocal road network. This paper presents a new and alternative proposal for the Vitória and Cariacica link under the Vitória Bay channel adopting the immersed tunnel solution. Many factors indicate that the tunnel is the best solution: there is ship traffic which leads to a high bridge with long spans, foundation of the bridge is a major problem due a thick soft ground (more than 40 m) and others. In opposite, the shallow channel is favorable for the immersed tunnel, which will not apply additional high stresses on the ground.Moreover, the advantages of the tunnel over the bridge solution rely on the neglected aesthetic and acoustic environmental impact. The cost of the construction of each solution, considering the same road ways are assessed with respect the international and the local costs of each one. The life cycle cost of the tunnel is projected and a tow is estimated as possible finance response to enable its construction.
Produção de petróleo
Ponte Cariacica Vitória
Ponte Cariacica Vitória