PORTUGAL – COBA Honoured at APPC’s 50th Anniversary Congress

The 50th Anniversary Congress of APPC (Portuguese Association of Engineering and Management Consultants) took place on March 12 at the Centro Cultural de Belém, bringing together esteemed state officials and prominent figures from the engineering sector. The event provided a platform for insightful discussions on some of today’s most pressing and complex challenges.

Beyond commemorating half a century of history and achievements in Portuguese engineering, the congress, in which COBA was represented at its highest level, served as a forward-looking forum, fostering dialogue on the sector’s future.

The event also paid tribute to APPC’s founding companies, a distinguished group in which COBA takes pride in being included, as well as to the Association’s former presidents. In this context, APPC honored Eng. Vitor Carneiro, Member of COBA’s Strategic Council and President of APPC from 2007 to 2019, along with Eng. Joaquim Caldeira Rodrigues, a founding member of COBA and President of APPC from 1990 to 1993. The latter was represented by his son, Eng. Sérgio Rodrigues, himself a former COBA collaborator.

These moments serve not only to celebrate the past but also to inspire a future filled with challenges and accomplishments.

Congratulations to APPC and to all who have contributed to its 50 years of dedication and excellence!

Lx, 25 March 2025

Did you know? - The Lezíria bridge over the Tagus river

The Lezíria Bridge crosses the Tagus River near the city of Carregado, connecting the A10 motorway to the west and the A13 motorway to the east. BRISA, the concessionaire for these motorways, launched the Design/Build tender for the construction of the bridge.

COBA led the design consortium, initiating the Detailed Design phase in 2004 and completing it in 2007 with the conclusion of the construction works. During this period, Technical Assistance was provided concurrently with both the design and construction phases.

The bridge, with a total length of 11,900 meters and a width of 30 meters, consists of three main components: the North Viaduct, the Bridge over the Tagus River, and the long South Viaduct, which spans the alluvial plain. The foundations of the viaducts consist of pier piles with a diameter of 1.5 meters, while the bridge foundations are made up of 2.2-meter-diameter piles, reaching depths of over 50 meters.

The Lezíria Bridge: Length: 11.900 m Width: 30 m

Main Structures

North Viaduct: 1.700 m

Bridge over the Tagus River: 972 m

South Viaduct: 9.230 m

The construction of the Bridge over the Tagus River was executed using the cantilever method, with a cast-in-place box girder deck and typical spans of 130 meters. The North Viaduct was primarily built with a launching girder and a deck composed of ribbed slabs, featuring typical spans of 33 meters. The South Viaduct construction involved a deck made of U-shaped beams and precast slabs, with typical spans of 36 meters.

Given the project's importance and scale, it was supported by an architectural study and a landscape integration plan, focused on creating a cohesive design for the three structures that form the crossing.

Lx, 22 January 2025