Skip to main content

Solution found for Colombian tunnel project?

A solution seems to have been found for Colombia’s long-running La Linea Tunnel project. Work has been delayed on the tunnel for a number of reasons and on a number of occasions, most recently due to funding issues. But previous delays were due to such diverse causes as technical challenges posed by the difficult conditions and a lack of suitable insurance cover. The Colombian Government has come to an agreement with the Segundo Centenario consortium building the tunnel that will see construction activity r
March 12, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
RSSA solution seems to have been found for Colombia’s long-running La Linea Tunnel project. Work has been delayed on the tunnel for a number of reasons and on a number of occasions, most recently due to funding issues. But previous delays were due to such diverse causes as technical challenges posed by the difficult conditions and a lack of suitable insurance cover.

The Colombian Government has come to an agreement with the Segundo Centenario consortium building the tunnel that will see construction activity recommence, according to Business News Americas. The US$363 million project has been the focus for major negotiations between both parties over the last few months while a solution has been searched for. Earlier this year, work stalled and the consortium faced having its contract cancelled by the state road authority 2812 Invias. Meanwhile the consortium members were told they could face a ban from working on any state tenders for a five year period.

The Segundo Centenario consortium comprises 11 firms: Condux, Constructora Herreña Fronpeca Colombia, Álvarez y Collins, Constructora Carlos Collis, Constructora Montecarlo Vías, Túneles de Colombia, Construirte, Gaico Ingenieros Constructores, H&H Arquitectura and Feluca.

This new compromise deal means that the consortium has to complete the tunnel by the end of November 2016. An additional $125 million is being provided to pay for the completion work. The 8.5km tunnel will link Colombia’s capital Bogota with the country’s main port, Buenaventura, and was originally planned for completion by November 2014. The tunnel is around 75% complete and the project also includes the construction of a 24km highway. When the route is finished it will cut journey times for commuters and also for the many heavy trucks driving between the port and Bogota, as well as improving safety over the existing road.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New tunnel link proposed for Colombia
    July 23, 2013
    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
  • Colombia’s tunnel of woe faces further setback
    May 19, 2017
    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
  • Colombia’s La Linea Tunnel completion in sight
    May 7, 2015
    The completion of Colombia’s long-running La Linea Tunnel project is now in sight, finally. Colombia’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, and vice president, German Vargas Lleras, made a joint announcement that the 8.65km long tunnel will be inaugurated in November 2016. The two tunnel drives (from Quindio and Tolima) have now met in the middle and only lining works are left to be completed. Once the tunnel is operational, it will enable trucks to complete the journey between Cajamarca (Tolima) and Calarca (Qui
  • Colombia continues tunnel plans
    February 17, 2012
    With work on Colombia's first La Linea tunnel still incomplete, discussions are now being held regarding plans for the second tunnel.