Viaducto Valle Escondido | Córdoba, Argentina

Engineering Partnership Built on Performance and Precision

ESTRUCTURAS S.A.C.I.C.I.F., a specialized construction firm with long experience in the Córdoba region, took on the project, which demanded tight planning and precise execution. The project’s conditions posed a real challenge: traffic at the site is consistently heavy, so crews had only brief windows to work. Any closures had to last hours at most — not days or weeks — while still keeping the project on schedule.

The contractor selected EFCO because the solution required self-supporting formwork with high load capacity. The system needed simplicity in execution and the ability to pre-assemble components on the ground before crane placement. This approach minimized work at height and reduced traffic interruption time.

EFCO provided a comprehensive solution combining PLATE GIRDER® formwork, E-Z DECK® towers, and SUPER STUD®, creating an integrated system. All formwork was stocked and readily available from a local warehouse—no custom fabrication required. This meant EFCO could deliver a complex solution using standard tools already on hand, demonstrating another way of providing Lowest in-Place Concrete Cost (LIPCC) through reduced lead times and project costs. This strategic partnership enabled ESTRUCTURAS to complete the structural work efficiently while meeting the 14-month timeline.

Self-Supporting Platform Maintains Critical Traffic Corridor

The project’s central challenge was maintaining regulatory clearance for vehicle traffic while creating a formwork platform over one of Córdoba’s busiest thoroughfares. EFCO’s engineering team designed a self-supporting “dance floor” configuration using PLATE GIRDER® formwork, supported by E-Z DECK® towers at the extremes.

Just 10 E-Z DECK® towers, leveraging their impressive 28-kip leg load capacity, supported approximately 282 square meters of deck area. The PLATE GIRDER® system supports an E-BEAM® and plywood soffit form, while leaving the required clearance of 9,000mm wide by 4,200mm high for uninterrupted vehicular circulation. SUPER STUD® served as distribution beams throughout the structure, completing the integrated system.

The self-supporting design eliminated the need for ground-based shoring in the traffic corridor—an impossibility given the continuous flow of vehicles. Each system component was precisely engineered to work within the project’s constraints while maintaining the structural integrity and safety margins.

Four-Hour Installation Minimizes Traffic Impact

EFCO’s commitment to minimizing traffic disruption extended beyond equipment design to comprehensive installation planning. Through detailed operation sheets and daily work programs, EFCO engineers planned every aspect of the installation sequence before equipment arrived on site. EFCO’s Field Service team then worked closely with ESTRUCTURAS on-site to ensure the installation matched the engineered plans exactly. This collaboration provided real-time guidance and problem-solving throughout the process, demonstrating the value of having experienced field support to bridge the gap between engineering and execution.

The entire dance floor installation required just four crane picks and only four hours of traffic interruption—a remarkable achievement for a project of this scale. The pre-assembly strategy enabled crews to construct complete formwork gangs at ground level.

This meticulous planning demonstrated how early collaboration and detailed engineering have a direct impact on project efficiency. EFCO’s detailed 3D Revit models provided step-by-step visualization of the assembly process, enabling the contractor to coordinate crane operations, traffic control, and crew deployment. The result was a seamless installation that established a safe and efficient platform for subsequent concrete operations.