Skip to main content

Brazil’s budget cuts threaten the Santos-Guaruja immersed tunnel

August 18, 2015
Adjustments to Brazil's budget could pose a threat to the planned immersed tunnel between Santos and Guaruja in Sao Paulo state, local media reported.

Sao Paulo state had put the project out to tender and had verbal support from the national treasury to borrow up to US$2 billion to finance the project. However, because of the economic crisis, this support has not materialised.

The tunnel would by 1.7km long, carry six lanes of traffic and be at an estimated depth of 35m.

Out of $918 million needed for the tunnel, Brazil's national development bank BNDES had already approved $269 million while the state of Sao Paulo had committed $258 million, leaving a $373 million gap. Sao Paulo state has half the resources needed already but it will not go ahead with the project until all the funds are available, local media reported.

Out of five consortia that presented a commercial proposal, four are prequalified: ISG Interligacao Santos-Guaruja, made of 1339 Andrade Gutierrez, 3086 Daewoo and CR Almeida; Nova Travessia, made of Constran, Ing E Mantovani and Piacentini Tecenge do Brasil; Tunel Santos-Guaruja, made of 1305 Odebrecht, Queiroz Galvao, 1511 OAS and Strukton; Sigma, made of J Malucelli Construtora de Obras, Grandi Lavori and 7809 Salini Impregilo; and Construtor Tunel Santos-Guaruja, made of Camargo Correa, 2717 Ferrovial Agroman and Carioca Engenharia.

Sao Paulo’s state highway agency 2529 Dersa has produced a video of the proposed submerged tunnel.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ARTBA provides detailed analysis of US transportation investment
    July 2, 2013
    The latest American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) analysis of US Census Bureau data reveals a 6% decline in the real value of highway pavement work. This contrasts with investment in airport, rail, transit, port and waterway construction in the US. Contractors completed US$8.4 billion in pavement construction work between January and April 2013, compared to $8.9 billion during the same time period in 2012 according to the report. Bridge and tunnel work between January and April 2013 was
  • Spending increases will boost road building in Brazil’s Parana State
    June 8, 2012
    The authorities in the Brazilian state of Parana are working on plans to improve roads and related infrastructure. During the 2012-2013 financial year the state authorities will invest close to US$617 million to improve roads and related infrastructure. The PERC state programme for road construction and maintenance has a budget of $415 million and is intended to improve road condition and boost safety. Around $202.4 million will be used to improve road surfaces, with $143 million being used for maintenance
  • $250 million for Oregon-Washington bridge replacement
    July 10, 2025
    Oregon and Washington will provide $250 million for the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge replacement.
  • Cat paver helps ''safeguard Venice''
    July 23, 2012
    For centuries Venetians had given in to the Adriatic Sea, learning to celebrate its unique challenges rather than trying to hold back its tides, but that is changing. Built on an archipelago of 118 islands, with over 150 canals and over 400 bridges connecting the islands, visitors and residents to the old lagoon city travel only by water or on foot: it is considered Europe's largest car-free urban area. So the sight of a state-of-the-art Caterpillar AP655D asphalt paver is unusual, but it is assisting in a