Chile-Argentina tunnel receives multiple bids

Interest has been strong in the tender process for the Agua Negra Tunnel project that will connect Chile and Argentina. In all 10 consortia comprising 29 firms submitted bids to build the tunnel, which will provide a new road link from Coquimbo in Chile to San Juan in Argentina. The winning tender is due to be announced in early 2018. It is highly likely that the winner will include local firms and Chilean companies in particular have access to personnel with experience of tunnelling work due to the country
June 5, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Interest has been strong in the tender process for the Agua Negra Tunnel project that will connect Chile and Argentina. In all 10 consortia comprising 29 firms submitted bids to build the tunnel, which will provide a new road link from Coquimbo in Chile to San Juan in Argentina. The winning tender is due to be announced in early 2018. It is highly likely that the winner will include local firms and Chilean companies in particular have access to personnel with experience of tunnelling work due to the country’s extensive hard rock mining sector.


The new route will boost trade and transport between the two countries and financial support is likely from several local and international sources. When it opens to traffic the new tunnel will provide a more dependable transport link between the countries than is currently available in the area. One existing tunnel is at a high altitude and its portals can be blocked during winter. The other route is a high mountain pass that is not suited to use by heavy traffic and is even more likely to be impassable in winter.

Road Structures

Related Content

  • Plans for Chile-Argentina tunnel progressing
    August 14, 2014
    Successful talks have been held between Chile and Argentina regarding the planned Agua Negra road tunnel that will link the two countries. Further talks will be carried out with regard to financing the project but these look set to be completed towards the end of August 2014, according to a report from Business News Americas. One option is for Argentina’s Government to pay for the construction with the costs being recovered through tolling but other financing solutions have also been discussed. The Agua Neg
    Read More
  • Chile-Argentina tunnel project progress
    October 20, 2017
    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.
    Read More
  • Progress with Agua Negra tunnel connecting Argentina and Chile
    October 11, 2016
    Discussions between Argentina and Chile over the new Agua Negra tunnel to connect the two countries are proving fruitful. A bi-national commission is overseeing the project and assessing bids, with the construction work expected to cost in the region of US$1.5 billion. Technical proposals will have to be submitted by February 2017, with economic bids made by May 2017. The winner of the tender could be announced in early 2018, with the first excavation work then commencing in late 2018 or early 2019. This wi
    Read More
  • New Chile-Argentina tunnel project to open for bids
    April 19, 2016
    The bidding process for the Agua Negra Tunnel project that will link Chile with Argentina looks set to commence in July or August 2016. The bidding is being organised jointly by the governments of both Chile and Argentina. One source of funding for the project is also now secured, with a loan of US$1.5 billion being provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). In addition the IADB has also approved $20 million in funding for Chile and Argentina to finance the project's environmental impact studie
    Read More

Highlighted Content