It's the world's longest sea-crossing bridge: 55 kilometres of motorway spans the Pearl River Estuary in the South China Sea before dipping into an undersea tunnel. The Chinese President Xi Jinping has today officially opened the gigantic infrastructure linking Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. A colossal engineering structure, involving the Bouygues Construction subsidiaries Bouygues Travaux Publics, Dragages Hong Kong and VSL for the construction of a 9.4-kilometre section.
A bridge of strategic importance 5714 prefabricated segments of 250 different types, laid down at the rate of 18 per day, shaft grouted friction piling method to cope with difficult ground conditions – a technical first in Hong Kong –, sea-based installations and specific logistical arrangements to maintain the waterways throughout the duration of the works... Some notable innovations for the construction of this extraordinary bridge structure. It is now possible to reach Hong Kong from the main cities of the Pearl River delta in 30 minutes, compared with four hours by land and one hour by boat. A real basis for stimulating commercial ties between the two sides of the crossing.
The Digital Management Platform (DPMP) has already been tested on BBFE and BBI projects as part of research into added values to business lines, but it is the first time it is used for a Bouygues Energies & Services project. We talked to Pierre Fougère, project manager for the Grande Motte project.
Julien Ciacci, a Rénovation Privée Project Manager, is here to talk to us about Newlife – a new company that aims to reuse and repurpose construction site materials.
Switzerland is often praised for its quality of life. There are various economic and financial reasons behind this proclaimed well-being. But how does it manifest itself in everyday life? We're going to take a closer look at a crucial factor in determining whether a city "lives" well: mobility. Encompassing a plethora of issues, mobilities present a major area of concern for the well-being of residents, particularly in urban areas. Whether in organising the flow of people, reducing air pollution and noise pollution, developing soft mobility, or finding substitutes for private vehicles, mobility is a key aspect of the ecological transition and is essential to the comfort of users. The city of Zurich understood this a long time ago and made it a priority. As a matter of fact, it often ranks among the top cities in European or global in this area.
This is THE major international innovation event that cannot be missed: VivaTech is back for a 3rd edition, from 24 to 26 May. Surrounded by partner start-ups, Bouygues Construction will be there to present its innovative technologies and services for well-being on and around its construction sites.
When health conditions required the widespread use of teleworking – wherever possible – in 2020, the sudden drop in travel, especially by car, was obvious to everyone. Some have been quick to conclude that teleworking has a beneficial impact on the environment. But what are the real effects of teleworking on mobility, and as consequence, on the carbon footprint of occupational activities?
Manhattan Loft Corporation, Bouygues UK and VSL have carried out a tall order: the construction of Manhattan Loft Gardens, one of London's highest buildings.
In mediaeval and Renaissance Rome, the people did not hesitate to use ancient buildings as a source of iron, bricks and other construction materials, just as Spanish settlers did in Aztec and Inca cities, stripping stones from ancient temples to build their own cathedrals. Tomorrow, will we be able to recover reusable components and materials from a building, to be reinvested in a new building instead of throwing them away or recycling them at great cost? This is the idea of the building as a materials bank.
In Llo, a town in the Pyrenees mountains, France just installed a thermodynamic solar power plant.
