Colombia’s tunnel of woe faces further setback

The troubled tunnel construction project in Colombia to build the La Linea link has faced yet a further setback in its long tale of woe. The tender for the completion of the final 12% of the tunnel project has not managed to attract any interest from contractors. The budget for this work is an estimated US$77 million. A new tender process is being launched, with a submission deadline of 6th June 2017 and planned winner announcement on 4th July 2017. The contractor that had been building the tunnel failed to
May 19, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The troubled tunnel construction project in Colombia to build the La Linea link has faced yet a further setback in its long tale of woe. The tender for the completion of the final 12% of the tunnel project has not managed to attract any interest from contractors. The budget for this work is an estimated US$77 million. A new tender process is being launched, with a submission deadline of 6th June 2017 and planned winner announcement on 4th July 2017. The contractor that had been building the tunnel failed to meet the necessary completion deadline and was involved in a dispute with Colombia's National Road Institute (2812 Invias), resulting in the firm losing the contract. However the project has been delayed previously on many occasions and for many reasons, including having the wrong kind of insurance cover for the work and due to more challenging than anticipated geological conditions. Construction commenced in 2004 with the breakthrough occurring in 2008, while the tunnel was originally planned for completion in mid-2016 but will not be ready for use until 2018.


When the tunnel is complete it will connect Calarcá, Quindío and Cajamarca and provide a much safer and faster transport link than the present route over a mountain pass. Travel speeds are low along the existing route, which features several sharp curves and has an unenviable record for crashes. The 8.6km tunnel will provide a new connection for the National Route 40 highway joining Bogotá with Cali as well as the port of Buenaventura. The tunnel runs underneath the Cordillera Central range, with its western portal at an altitude of 2,420m and the eastern at 2,505m.

Finance & Funding

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Colombia: more money for Toyo Tunnel Project
    April 4, 2024
    The Toyo Tunnel Project – the Guillermo Gaviria Echeverri Tunnel Project - covers 18.3km including new roads and is under construction by Consorcio Antioquia al Mar.
    Read More
  • Harsh winter weather impacts on road surfaces
    February 27, 2012
    With warmer weather now spreading across the Northern Hemisphere, the impact of a second successive harsh winter can finally be seen on the roads of many nations. The transport links of many countries were affected badly by tough winter conditions. From the US to Russia and the 27 European Union members, heavy snow blocked roads and led to endless delays.
    Read More
  • Chile’s US$1 billion Chiloe Island bridge behind schedule
    February 22, 2024
    Chile’s US$1 billion bridge to link Chiloe Island with the mainland is behind schedule.
    Read More
  • Awards for tenders for key highway projects in Colombia will be delayed
    April 13, 2012
    Delays in the award process will see awards for major road projects in Colombia. The road authority Invias has said it is holding back the award of road projects forming part of a concession package put until late April 2012. The contracts are for maintenance works on roads in various parts of Colombia. Bids have been placed bySolarte Solarte, Conalvias, Construcciones El Condor, Mario Alberto Huertas Cotes and Hidalgo e Hidalgo have submitted their own proposals for these projects. In all there are 16 sepa
    Read More

Highlighted Content