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’s major new road
    February 1, 2023
    Colombia’s major new road project will be costly.
  • Uruguay’s premier PPP project awarded
    November 11, 2015
    Work will commence shortly on Uruguay’s first PPP highway project. The construction and concession is being handled by a consortium comprising key contractors. The Uruguayan Ministry of Transport and Public Works awarded the project to a consortium made up of Sacyr Concesiones (43%), Sacyr Construcción (8%) and Grinor (49%). The project involves the building, restoration and management of a 179km corridor connecting the cities of Nueva Palmira and Mercedes.
  • Colombia contract won by consortium
    July 28, 2015
    Colombia’s National Infrastructure Agency (ANI), has awarded a consortium led by Spanish construction firm, Sacyr, a contract for work on the Pasto to Rumichaca highway. The route lies near Colombia’s border with Ecuador. This project forms part of the second wave of 4G road concessions being awarded. A second carriageway will be built for 80km between Ipiales and Catumbuco, with six road intersections, 2.6km of tunnels and 1.5km of bridges, pontoons and viaducts. The SAC 4G consortium comprises Sacyr and H
  • Taking the coast road on Reunion Island
    April 4, 2017
    An ambitious project on Reunion Island will improve transport