“A game changer,” stated the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth in his address at the official launch of the Metro Express Project. The 26-km route will connect Curepipe to Immigration Square in Port Louis and will feature 22 stations, two of which will be state-of-the-art elevated stations. The alignment will connect four major bus interchanges enabling a multimodal urban transit solution. Apart from stations, the scope of the project will include the construction of viaducts & bridges, track works, DC electric traction systems, ticketing & passenger information systems, integration with road traffic through advanced signaling systems, procurement of rolling stock from world majors in LRT (Light Rail Transit) and construction of depot.

The fabricator and the galvanizer worked closely together to meet all deadlines for installation. Both initial appearance and long-term aesthetics were a major part of the initial conversations about the project. Those involved in the creation of the Metro Express were educated by the galvanizer on design and fabrication, encouraging streamlined communication throughout the longevity of the installation. This included proper venting, draining, and steel chemistry selection.

The project not only required a quick turnaround time, but also a coating that would protect against any abrasion and last at least 10-20 years without additional maintenance. Ultimately, galvanizing was selected over paint due to life-cycle cost, aesthetics, turnaround time, coating durability and corrosion protection. Traffic congestion costs reach 4 billion annually in the area, and this cost-friendly solution will be a major factor in decreasing those expenses. This high traffic area will serve the area’s residents for many years to come thanks to the durability and protection of hot-dip galvanizing.