Skip to main content

Chile-Argentina tunnel project progress

Further progress is being made with the landmark Agua Negra Tunnel project that will connect Argentina and Chile. The new tunnel will run through the Andes mountain range, providing an improved highway link between the two nations, boosting trade and transport. The consortia pre-qualified for the tender process will be announced during November 2017.
October 20, 2017 Read time: 1 min

Further progress is being made with the landmark Agua Negra Tunnel project that will connect Argentina and Chile. The new tunnel will run through the Andes mountain range, providing an improved highway link between the two nations, boosting trade and transport. The consortia pre-qualified for the tender process will be announced during November 2017. Construction of the tunnel is expected to cost US$1.5 billion and could take up to 10 years to complete. Initial funding to help start some of the technical design and planning work on the project is being provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) in the shape of two loans. One loan of $130 million will be for Argentina while the other, of $150 million, will be for Chile. The IADB has said it will source the necessary funding for the entire project. The intended design of twin tube tunnels calls for parallel drives measuring 13.9m in diameter. Around 72% of the 14km route run through Argentina, connecting San Juan in Argentina with Coquimbo in Chile.

Related Content

  • Paraguay road project planned, with funding to be sourced
    June 13, 2017
    Paraguay is in the process of sourcing a portion of the necessary funding for its Transchaco road project.
  • New financing securing Costa Rica road building
    September 21, 2015
    A series of loans from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) will help finance transportation projects in Costa Rica. Totaling around US$1 billion, the loans will allow a substantial package of works to get underway. This will be of major importance to Costa Rica as it will unlock several key road and transport projects so far held back by the availability of suitable funding. However, the Costa Rican authorities have yet to announce all the road projects intended for construction. So far only three hi
  • Costa Rican MOPT to progress two key road projects in 2013
    December 10, 2012
    The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) in Costa Rica is planning to invite tenders to design a 4km-5km four lane flyover that will link Calle Blancos with Zapote during 2013. Achieving some progress on the delayed 5km Circunvalacion Norte ring road project is also said to be a MOPT priority. A tender for the design of the toll-less flyover is due to be launched in January 2013, with construction earmarked to start in 2014. It is expected to be completed after 18 months. Expropriations are not req
  • Progress being made for key Chile mega projects
    February 22, 2016
    Progress is being made in Chile for two key mega projects, the Chacao Bridge and the El Melon Tunnel. Chile's Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has ordered the consortium working on the Chacao Bridge project to carry out additional studies. The consortium comprises Systra, OAS, Aas-Jakobsen and Hyundai and the project is worth US$511.45 million. The consortium has to respond to observations made by the MOP on the design proposal presented in August 2014. The works to build the bridge now look likely to continu