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 key tunnel – completion date set?
    January 11, 2019
    Colombia has set a new date for the completion of the La Linea tunnel project of May 2020. The project has been subject to a series of delays due to issues such as insufficient financing, unexpected geological problems and even the wrong type of insurance cover. The completion date for the main tunnel stretch has been moved back several times, but it is hoped that it will finally be completed on the date, which was announced by Colombia’s president, Ivan Duque. The completion of the entire project, whic
  • Colombia’s Toyo Tunnel project providing key link
    May 20, 2016
    Colombia’s Toyo Tunnel project will provide an important new link for the country, writes Mauro Nogarin. The new Toyo Tunnel project is of immense importance for Colombia, improving transportation and providing an important road link. The work is being carried out by the Antioquia to the Sea Consortium, which comprises of FCC Construction, Cass Builders and Company, Carlos Alberto Solarte and Estyma Studies and Handling. These firms are building the Toyo Tunnel project and the various access roads, with the
  • Colombia’s popular highway tenders
    April 7, 2014
    International interest is strong in tenders opening in Colombia for the construction and management of 1,146km worth of highways. These form part of a package for 10 projects known as Autopistas para la Prosperidad, worth some US$4.75 billion in all. OHL has expressed an interest in the Autopista al Mar 2 and Autopista al Rio Magdalena 1 highway projects, which have been valued at around $1.9 billion.
  • Norway’s massive Rogfast Tunnel project
    December 11, 2018
    The world's longest and deepest road tunnel is underway in western Norway - Adrian Greeman reports