Panama Metro - Tocumen Airport Line 2 Extension

The project connects Line 2 of the Panama Metro with the Instituto Técnico Superior del Este (ITSE) and Tocumen International Airport (Tocumen). The double-rail line extension, known as El Ramal, measures 1.96 kilometers long and includes two new passenger stations.

The project supplies much-needed connectivity between the airport and the city's main public transportation service network for the thousands of passengers and workers who travel daily through Tocumen. It also benefits airport workers, students, and ITSE employees, as well as meeting the travel demands of the Instituto Nacional de Formación Profesional y Capacitación para el Desarrollo Humano (INADEH) and other surrounding schools and communities.

The elevated guideway includes three types of structures supported on drilled shaft foundations; the elevated stations are also supported on drilled shaft foundations. The ITSE station is 126 meters long with one level for the vestibule and train platform. The auxiliary building that includes all technical services for the station is located at ground level, underneath the vestibule. The Airport Station is 159 meters long and has one vestibule/platform level that includes the design provision for a future connection with the Tocumen Airport-Terminal 2 Building. An auxiliary building for all technical services is located across the street from this station.

The typical viaduct for the guideway is a precast concrete, twin “U” girder superstructure spanning between 20 and 30 meters, based on the geometry and alignment. The non-typical elevated guideway structure was constructed using precast, prestressed “I” girders, which support a widened “U”-girder section to accommodate the track switches with a similar span to the typical "U” girders. 

As the Prime Designer and Engineer of Record for the project, TYLin provided services that included structural design for the elevated guideway and stations, geotechnical analysis and design (in partnership with Shannon & Wilson), architectural design (in partnership with Perez & Perez Architects Planners), mechanical, electrical, and plumbing designs, rail alignment, interface and systems integration of all rolling stock systems, and interdisciplinary coordination services.  

Project Highlights:

• The project demonstrates our deep experience with designing large rail and transit projects in a dense urban environment and adjacent to sensitive infrastructure.  
• Working in partnership with Consorcio Línea 2 Ramal (CL2R), we coordinated all design activities with numerous stakeholders and government authorities.  
• The TYLin team worked closely with the technology supplier for rolling stock system and train fabricator, carefully identifying and coordinating with the respective interfaces and requirements.  
• BIM 3D modeling was used for all design, coordination, and pre-construction reviews for the elevated stations, allowing us to respond quickly to changes during construction.