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

  • Innovative sealing of world's longest immersed tunnel
    April 16, 2012
    Infrastructure has been chosen to provide a sealing system for the world's longest immersed tunnel. China Communications Construction is said to have selected Trelleborg for the innovative design of its seals, which are claimed to ensure watertightness even through a seismic event. Part of China's prestigious Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau link project, the immersed near 6km tunnel will consist of 32 elements. The joints will be sealed with a Trelleborg sealing system including Gina gaskets, Omega seals and wat
  • Virginia state issues RFP for $2.1 billion Interstate 66 toll expansion
    December 23, 2015
    The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has issued a draft request for proposals (RFP) for the US$2.1 billion Interstate 66 tolled expansion project. Work under a 40-50-year public-private partnership is expected to include construction of 46km of lanes.
  • Brazil project tender
    April 24, 2012
    The tender for the Northern section of Brazil’s Rodoanel highway in Sao Paulo is now going ahead. This was previously delayed due to legal complexities. Talks will be held with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) over a new deadline for potential builders to submit documentation. The road section must be completed by November 2014.
  • Brazil road condition analysed
    August 1, 2016
    A report is being compiled in Brazil regarding the state of the country’s road network. The report was compiled by the country’s national transport confederation, CNT, in July 2016. The report is due to be released in October 2016. However CNT says it is pessimistic about what the report will state. This is due to cuts in public investment in roads and delays in the launch of concession programmes. Brazil’s 2016 federal road budget has been set US$2.03 billion. However up to $1.3 billion had to be used to p