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

  • IDB, iRAP extend Latin America-Caribbean work
    February 25, 2025
    The five-year deal was signed during the Ten Steps to 2030 for Safer Road Infrastructure Side Event at the recent 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety underway in Marrakech, Morrocco.
  • New South Wales is seeking financial packers for WestConnex in Sydney
    June 19, 2015
    Investment bank Goldman Sachs will soon be sending out expressions of interest for backers to finance Australia’s biggest road deal, the three-stage WestConnex project to be rollout by the New South Wales government. According to a report by The Australian newspaper, initially around US$1.17 billion will be needed for the first phase of the Sydney toll road project. The first phase will likely cost between nearly $2.35 billion and $3.9 billion. Total cost of all three phases over 10 years could be as
  • Tunnel technology improves driving safety
    February 14, 2012
    Tunnel technology advances will make driving through underground links considerably safer, writes Mike Woof
  • Increased infrastructure spending
    February 22, 2012
    With economies booming in the BRIC countries and other regions, spending on infrastructure is at a high - Patrick Smith reports As economic crisis grips much of the world, many countries are still spending billions on infrastructure to improve transportation. While the USA and Europe struggle with debt problems (and this has affected much of the rest of the world) the development of highways, airport, ports and other infrastructure is gathering pace in other regions to boost economic developments.