Chile prepares to begin Antofagasta flood control works

Chile's public works ministry (MOP), through its hydraulics works division DOH, will start the construction of flood defense works in four ravines near the northern city of Antofagasta this month, the regional MOP office said in a release.

These works were split into four contracts worth a total of 11.3bn pesos (US$17mn), which were awarded last month.

The regional MOP office told BNamericas that the awarded contracts were:

- Jardines del Sur flood defense works, 1st stage: Awarded to Icafal. Involves installing 43 containment walls along the ravine. Future works will bring total investments to 9.2bn pesos and will entail a total of 93 walls.

- Riquelme flood defense works, 1st stage: Awarded to Conix Ingeniería, Involves installing 22 stabilizing walls. Total investments across all stages is 3.4bn pesos and entails construction of 41 containment walls.

- Uribe flood defense works, 3rd stage: Awarded to Visol. Involves adding eight containment walls to the ravine, bringing the total to 35.

- El Toro flood defense works, 1st stage: Awarded to Visol. Entails installing 11 decanting wells and 11 contention walls. Future works will bring total investment to 8.2bn pesos and involve 29 containment walls and 23 wells.

The head of the Antofagasta MOP office, Edgar Blanco, said that these works will improve flood safety for 44,000 residents.

In total, the government plans to invest 60bn pesos in flood defense works for the city.

(Pictured, previously built flood containment walls close to Antofagasta)