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

  • David Barwell suggests six steps for closing the UK funding gap
    January 11, 2019
    Six steps for closing the UK funding gap Plenty of private money is seeking UK investment opportunities. The government and the infrastructure sector in general must make projects more attractive, writes David Barwell* It is widely acknowledged that the UK faces mounting economic, environmental and social problems if the nation's infrastructure fails to meet present and future demands. Government estimates propose that almost €561 billion is required to bridge the infrastructure funding gap. As part o
  • Brazilian loan for Bolivian road
    February 8, 2012
    A US$332 million loan from Brazil will help build a highway between Villa Tunari and San Ignacio de Moxos in Bolivia. The project will cost over $1 million/km while the 306km highway will cost $415 million and the new link will be built by Brazilian firm OAS.
  • Costs climb for constructing Mexican tunnel
    August 20, 2014
    Climbing costs are afflicting the construction of the key Coatzacoalcos tunnel connection in Mexico. Concesionaria Tunel de Coatzacoalcos is the firm handling the construction and concession for the Coatzacoalcos immersed tunnel. The company claims that costs have climbed 150%, from US$153.23-$383.1 million. Concesionaria Tunel de Coatzacoalcos is controlled by Spanish construction firm FCC Construcciones and says that the climbing costs are caused by delays due to the climate, problems purchasing land and
  • Paraguay’s premier project progressing
    April 24, 2020
    Construction work on Paraguay’s premier road project progressing on track.