North Extension of the COSAC Corridor, Naranjal Station to Av. Chimpu Eye
Lima, Peru
Best Project
Sent by: OHLA
Owner: Municipal Company for Strategic Project Support (EMAPE)
Leading design company | Civil, structural and MEP engineer: Barriga – Dall’orto SA
General contractor: Obrascon Huarte Lain Peru Branch (OHLA)
The expansion of Lima’s integrated public transport system extends 10.2 km through the districts of Comas and Carabayllo in the Northern Cone of Peru’s capital and largest city, an area previously known for chaotic traffic, numerous bus services informal private and the presence of organized crime. It was a conflict zone that posed significant risks for the safety of workers and for the construction of the new connector.
The project, known as the High Capacity North Corridor Extension, or by its Spanish acronym, COSAC, was built by a team led by contractor Obrascon Huarte Lain Sucursal del Peru (OHLA). It includes a 10.2 km segregated bus lane for use only by public transport buses within the central median of the city’s roads. The work also included the construction of two main lanes, two side dividers and two service lanes adjacent to property lines.
The terminal station of Chimpu Ocllo (above) is part of the North Corridor of the COSAC (right). The workshop yard was once a landfill.
Photo courtesy of OHLA
The team also designed and built 17 stations equipped with access ramps, control modules, boarding modules and maneuvering areas for buses, part of the $538 million project that has been adding public transit routes to Lima since 2010.
OHLA employed local labor, with a workforce development program that included training. The construction of modern infrastructure with large garden areas was also beneficial to the economically depressed communities of the city such as Comas and Carabayllo. Throughout all traffic was managed.
Photo courtesy of OHLA
“Ensuring smooth traffic flow during construction was a major challenge,” OHLA noted in the competition entry form. “Twelve traffic diversion plans were implemented in phases, directing construction activities through clearly delineated sectors, monitored at intersections.”
The construction of urban green spaces reduced the levels of dust in the air, causing respiratory diseases. Systems were implemented to reinforce the foundation soil and control settlement to mitigate construction in a workshop dump and project maintenance yard. In total, OHLA built more than 180,000 square meters of green areas and a new wastewater treatment plant as part of the project. The treated water is now used to water the plants. The planned deadline and budget have been met.
