Colombia’s La Linea Tunnel completion in sight

The completion of Colombia’s long-running La Linea Tunnel project is now in sight, finally. Colombia’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, and vice president, German Vargas Lleras, made a joint announcement that the 8.65km long tunnel will be inaugurated in November 2016. The two tunnel drives (from Quindio and Tolima) have now met in the middle and only lining works are left to be completed. Once the tunnel is operational, it will enable trucks to complete the journey between Cajamarca (Tolima) and Calarca (Qui
May 7, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The completion of Colombia’s long-running La Linea Tunnel project is now in sight, finally. Colombia’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, and vice president, German Vargas Lleras, made a joint announcement that the 8.65km long tunnel will be inaugurated in November 2016. The two tunnel drives (from Quindio and Tolima) have now met in the middle and only lining works are left to be completed. Once the tunnel is operational, it will enable trucks to complete the journey between Cajamarca (Tolima) and Calarca (Quindio) in 35 minutes. This will be a significant reduction in time compared with the two hours and ten minutes required at present. Road safety will also be improved as the new route will feature shallower curves and gradients. The remaining excavation work should be completed in four months and then an additional geomembrane insulation layer will be installed. The project, developed by construction company Carlos Collins, will be finished on the date agreed by the contractor and the government, 30th November 2016. The Ministry of Transport has said that the company will also have to progress in its works at La Envidia and Perales viaducts, Alpes tunnel and Cafetal, Virgen Blanca and La Herradura II bridges. In addition, Carlos Collins will have to comply with the environmental conditions at La Gata and La Soledad faults and will need to implement filters and water drainage systems. The project has been delayed several times and for several reasons. However its completion will be of key importance to the country. Colombia’s other road projects have, for the most part, been carried out within, or at least close to, their original schedules however.
Road Structures

Related Content

  • Colombia’s La Linea Tunnel will be completed
    September 16, 2015
    Colombia's national road institute (Invias) has said that the La Linea tunnel project will open to traffic in 2017. The project has been delayed on several occasions and due to a variety of reasons, presenting a luckless and lengthy tale of woe for Colombia’s transport ministry. Early in its lifetime the project was held back by unexpected geological issues arising from more challenging ground conditions than had been initially realised. The project was also delayed by insurance problems for some of the fir
    Read More
  • Further delays possible for Colombia tunnel
    July 21, 2016
    Further delays to completion look a possibility for Colombia’s La Linea Tunnel project. A strike by truck drivers meant that supplies of construction materials were halted, adding to previous delays. The country’s National Road Institute (Invias) has stated that work on the tunnel does not look likely to be finished until the first quarter of 2017. The project will only be completed before that date if faster progress can be achieved with the electro-mechanical works currently in hand. Invias has previously
    Read More
  • Colombia’s troubled tunnel project completion due
    April 26, 2017
    The completion of work on Colombia’s troubled tunnel project is now finally in sight. A new contractor will be selected by Colombia's National Road Institute (Invias) to complete the last section of work required on the La Linea Tunnel. The winner of the tender process will be announced on 13th June 2017. An additional US$50 million is being budgeted by the Colombian authorities to complete the work. It is expected that in all, finishing the project will cost $86.6 million. Work still to be carried out incl
    Read More
  • New tunnel link proposed for Colombia
    July 23, 2013
    Even as work continues on La Linea tunnel in Colombia, the country’s government has received a proposal for an additional tunnel link. A consortium made up of Colombian companies and Italian firms has suggested building a new tunnel to link Quindio and Tolima. Odinsa, Mincivil, Impregilo and Salini are involved in the consortium and have suggested a PPP as being a possible model under which to construct the link, which could cost in the order of US$531 million and would be 8.5km long. The economic case for
    Read More

Highlighted Content