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

  • Third phase for Colombia’s complex PPP project
    September 15, 2017
    Work is underway on the third stage of Colombia’s Bogota-Villavicencio road project. This 24km project is being carried out under the PPP model by the concession holder, Concesionaria Vial Andina (Coviandina). The project is complex and includes the construction of seven tunnels in all, which have a total length of 10.7km, as well as 21 bridges and overpasses measuring 3.8km in all. Coviandina has bored around 930m of the total tunnel length at present.
    Read More
  • Taiwan bridge link project moving ahead
    February 23, 2017
    Construction of the Kinmen Bridge in Taiwan has now been resumed, with work having restarted on the project in late 2016. The bridge will be 5.4km long in all and will have a 1.05km long main section, connecting the islands of Greater Kinmen and Little Kinmen (also known as Lieyu). The project includes building approach roads for the bridge as well as cuttings and connecting ramps. Costing US$292 million and with funding being provided jointly by Taiwan’s Government and the local authorities, the bridge is
    Read More
  • Pumps vital for Stockholm tunnel
    July 20, 2012
    A major tunnel project in the Swedish capital Stockholm will mean that roads in a residential area will be safe from workmen repairing power cables. The tunnel will not be visible when completed, but its importance to the city's development is considerable. It means 10km of high voltage cable cutting through a residential area will be replaced with cables laid through the new tunnel, providing sufficient land for some 3,000 badly-needed new homes in an area divided down the middle by Lake Mälaren and the Ba
    Read More
  • Autopistas de la Prosperidad, Colombia contracts out to tender
    April 12, 2013
    The first five sections of Colombia’s Autopistas de la Prosperidad have been put out to tender. The contracts, worth a combined US$3.52 billion (COP 6.4tn), will be awarded in November 2013. Overall, all nine sections of Autopistas de la Prosperidad are estimated to cost COP 13tn. The four remaining sections will go under the hammer in September 2013.
    Read More

Highlighted Content