Skip to main content

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.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Colombia plans on upgrading rural roads
    December 1, 2022
    Colombia has plans to upgrade rural roads.
  • Czech tunnel delays
    March 6, 2012
    Progress is being made in the Czech Republic on two key urban tunnel projects. In capital Prague, the Czech contractor Metrostave has now completed the drilling portion of the Letna section of the Blanka road tunnel. Local residents have complained about the noise, vibration and cracks in their properties that they say have been generated by the drilling and blasting work. The project looks as though its completion date will be later than first planned however.
  • Colombia’s Toyo Tunnel project underway
    September 14, 2018
    Construction is ongoing for Colombia’s Toyo tunnel project in Antioquia. The tunnel is located between Giraldo and Canasgordas and some 120km from Medellin. The tunnel should open to traffic in 2024 if the project sticks to its planned schedule. The main tunnel section will measure some 9.85km-long although the project involves drilling side tunnels and emergency areas. The work is costing US$588.4 million.
  • Colombian concession connection contracts
    May 4, 2022
    Colombian concession connection contracts are being considered.