World's largest network of urban ropeways for Bolivia

The detachable ropeways will be equipped with 10-passenger cabins and will link the two major Bolivian cities of La Paz and El Alto. At altitudes between 3,600 and 4,000 metres above sea level, the three ropeways, with an overall length of almost 11 kilometres and a total of 11 stations, will greatly alleviate transportation problems for thousands of commuters between the two cities, transporting up to 9,000 persons per hour per direction. Construction work on the project - Doppelmayr's first in Bolivia - is due to commence in late 2012, with completion and official acceptance envisaged for the end of 2014.

Doppelmayr has been awarded the contract to build three ropeways in the Bolivian capital of La Paz. These first urban ropeways in Bolivia will link the two grown-together cities of La Paz and El Alto. With individual lengths of up to 4 kilometres, several intermediate stations and transport capacities of up to 3,000 persons per hour per direction, they will take a considerable amount of traffic off the extremely congested roads, thus greatly alleviating transportation problems for the cities' commuters. The overall length of the three ropeways is 10.7 kilometres, with a total of 11 stations, which makes the La Paz project the world's largest network of urban ropeways.

With travelling speeds of up to 5 m/s (approx. 18 km/h), travelling times between the two cities will be between 10 and 16.5 minutes at the most, whereas doing the same distance in a car may take up to one hour and more.

In the contract negotiations with the Ministerio de Obras Públicas, Servicios y Viviendas, Doppelmayr was able to impress with its comprehensive knowledge of all ropeway related matters, its high quality standards, its demonstrated commitment and ability to deliver on target, and last but not least with its many years of experience in international large-scale projects. The parties to the contract agreed not to disclose the contract value.

The ground-breaking ceremony is to be held still in 2012. Planning and design work is already underway at Doppelmayr/Garaventa. Project completion and official acceptance are envisaged for the end of 2014.

Doppelmayr's latest project in London, where a ropeway has been built to cross the Thames, has won international acclaim, and, with more than one million passengers after just two months of service, has made its mark as a comfortable and fast means of transport within an urban public transport system.

Facts and Figures: La Paz, Bolivia