New tunnel link proposed for Colombia

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
July 23, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
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. 3214 Odinsa, Mincivil, 3149 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 this new route has yet to be made clear as the tunnel would lie comparatively close to the La Linea tunnel.

Progress with the current La Linea tunnel project in Colombia has been slow due to a series of delays. This link will connect Calarca and Cajamarca in the central Corderilla of the Colombian Andes and at around 8.6km, will be the longest road tunnel in Latin America when complete. When open to traffic La Linea tunnel will reduce travel times along Route 40 between Bogota and Cali and also the port of Buenaventura. This difficult project has met with numerous challenges, from technical, financial and legal standpoints. Altitude has not made the project any easier either and one tunnel portal is at 2,400m above sea level while the other is at 2,500m. However when it is complete the benefit to the Colombian economy will be significant as it will improve transport and cut accidents by replacing a treacherous existing route. From an engineering standpoint, the opening of La Linea tunnel will be a significant achievement for Colombia’s construction industry.
Road Structures

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • China looks to the future with major highway plans
    February 15, 2012
    China is still moving ahead with plans that will give it the world's biggest highway system. Patrick Smith reports. As China's economy grows even more, keeping the country on the move has become a priority for the government. While the country has made great strides over the past decade in improving its infrastructure, the number of vehicles has also increased rapidly, and in some instances restrictions have been placed on them.
    Read More
  • Polish island tunnel connection planned
    February 7, 2017
    The tender process is due to commence in Poland for a major new tunnel project in the north of the country. The link will provide an improved road connection for the city of Swinoujscie, running between the islands of Uznam and Wolin. When complete in late 2021 or early 2022, this will be the longest road tunnel ever constructed in Poland. A number of consortia and companies have been preselected by the Polish General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) to tender for the project. The plans
    Read More
  • New Colombia highway link being built
    February 27, 2018
    A consortium of Colombian construction companies, Concesionaria Desarrollo Vial al Mar (Devimar), is to build the new in Autopista al Mar 1 highway. This 176km link is expected to cost US$790.5 million to build, connecting Medellin with Santa Fe de Antioquia. The new highway will cut journey times on the route by 20-30 minutes, boosting transport for the region. The project is complex and involves the construction of no less than 39 bridges, of which 26 will be situated between the 4.6km Tunel de
    Read More
  • Colombia establishing infrastructure action plan
    October 22, 2018
    Colombia is establishing an action plan for its infrastructure programme, focussing on sourcing suitable financing. The country’s national road institute, Invias, is looking for US$659.5 million to carry out a series of 26 road resurfacing projects. Work on these commenced as far back as 2004 but numerous stretches remain incomplete and it will take until 2022 for the surfacing operations to be concluded. Meanwhile another new division will oversee the La Linea Tunnel and Ruta Del Sol II projects. The form
    Read More

Highlighted Content