Skip to main content

Key link for Chile

Work will commence on a key new road tunnel connecting in Chile in 2001. The Chacabuco II tunnel will provide another road link between Santiago and the Andes mountain range along the Los Libertadores highway. This will improve Chile's connection with neighbouring Argentina as the highway runs to the border. The 2km tunnel will run parallel to the existing Chacabuco I tunnel, and will carry two lanes of traffic running towards Santiago.
May 28, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Work will commence on a key new road tunnel connecting in Chile in 2001. The Chacabuco II tunnel will provide another road link between Santiago and the Andes mountain range along the Los Libertadores highway. This will improve Chile's connection with neighbouring Argentina as the highway runs to the border. The 2km tunnel will run parallel to the existing Chacabuco I tunnel, and will carry two lanes of traffic running towards Santiago. Once completed, the annual capacity of the route will increase by 5%, up from 8,500 vehicles/day at present. The aim is to also reduce the number of accidents along this stretch of the route and increase the speed through the tunnels by allowing single direction traffic. The works on the new tunnel will cost US$61 million and will include an emergency services depot between the two carriageways, lighting, ventilation, CCTV and electronic signalling. Once completed, Chacabuco I will be closed to carry out maintenance for six months, with the whole project due for completion in mid 2014.

Related Content

  • Bolivia tunnel and highway project under construction
    February 9, 2017
    In Bolivia work is progressing on the strategic Incahuasi tunnel project – Mauro Nogarin writes In southern Bolivia, the Bolivian Highway Administrator (ABC) is supervising the construction of the Incahuasi Tunnel and Monteagudo-Muyupampa-Ipati road. This work is of fundamental importance for the country as it will improve the flow of traffic and boost trade between the departments of Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca. The Monteagudo-Ipati highway project includes the Incachuasi tunnel which has a length of 96km
  • Tunnel project of Chilean capital Santiago
    April 8, 2015
    Tunnel construction in Chilean capital Santiago will help cut chronic congestion – Mauro Nogarin & Mike Woof write. Chile’s capital Santiago is a thriving city having benefited from the country’s economy growing strongly in recent years. The massive copper mining sector has helped boost the country’s GDP significantly in the past few decades, also aided by the growing international reputation of Chile’s large wine industry. The steady economic growth has resulted in an equally steady growth in average incom
  • Chile-Argentina tunnelling projects planned
    April 7, 2021
    New tunnelling projects will link Chile and Argentina.
  • 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.