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After decades of waiting, Brazil's first underwater tunnel, connecting Santos and Guarujá, is about to become a reality. With an investment of R$6 billion and the promise of generating 9 jobs, this historic project promises to transform mobility and the economy of Baixada Santista. Find out how this revolutionary initiative is about to change the regional scenario.
After decades of expectations and promises, the dry connection between Santos and Guarujá is about to become a reality.
The construction of Brazil's first underwater tunnel, a R$6 billion project, is making significant progress, promising to transform the mobility and economy of Baixada Santista.
According to information from the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, the president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), reached a historic agreement to make the work viable.
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The understanding foresees that the São Paulo government will conduct the bidding process, with the costs divided equally between the federal and state spheres.
The notice is expected to be published in the second quarter of 2025, with the auction taking place in the second half of the same year.
The bidding will be in the form of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), allowing the project to also include investments from the private sector.
Impact on mobility and regional economy
Currently, more than 21 thousand vehicles cross between Santos and Guarujá every day via ferries and smaller vessels.
In addition, around 7,7 cyclists and 7,6 pedestrians depend on this service. The ferries face constant congestion, especially during peak hours, and frequently experience operational failures.
With the construction of the tunnel, it is expected that travel time will be reduced to just a few minutes, eliminating queues and optimizing the logistical flow of the largest port in Latin America.
The work is also seen as essential to boost tourism and the region's economy, facilitating access for visitors and improving the flow of port production.
Furthermore, a significant impact on the real estate market is expected, with the appreciation of areas close to the construction site and the growth of new commercial opportunities.
Submerged tunnel characteristics
The tunnel will have a total length of 1,5 km, with 870 meters underwater, allowing the traffic of passenger vehicles, public transport and trucks.
Unlike elevated bridges or viaducts, this technology is considered safer for navigation, as it avoids the need to interrupt maritime traffic in the Port of Santos, one of the busiest in the world.
The structure will also have a cycle lane and space for pedestrians, ensuring accessibility and promoting more sustainable mobility.
The technique chosen for the construction of the tunnel will be pre-cast segments that will be installed in the bed of the canal and subsequently connected.
This methodology is widely used in countries such as Denmark, China and Japan, allowing for less environmental impact and greater agility in execution.
Job creation and economic development
The construction of the tunnel is estimated to cost approximately R$6 billion, with resources coming from the Government of São Paulo, the Union and the private sector.
The project should generate around 9 thousand direct and indirect jobs, boosting the economic development of Baixada Santista.
Furthermore, the tunnel is expected to bring more security and predictability to the logistics of the Port of Santos, avoiding the impacts of stoppages caused by operational problems on the ferries.
History of attempts and challenges
The idea of a dry connection between Santos and Guarujá is a centuries-old demand of the local population.
In 2014, Dersa cancelled a bid for the construction of the tunnel due to obstacles with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) related to the formation of consortiums.
Since then, the project has undergone several revisions and negotiations until reaching the current consensus between the state and federal governments.
In the 1970s and 1990s, several studies pointed to the viability of bridges and tunnels, but the strategic location of the Port of Santos always represented an obstacle to the viability of a project that would not compromise maritime traffic.
The submerged tunnel format was chosen precisely to overcome this challenge.
Another critical point in making the work viable was the environmental issue.
Baixada Santista is home to important preservation areas, and any major project must undergo rigorous environmental impact studies.
To ensure the environmental viability of the project, mitigation measures will be implemented, including ecological compensations and monitoring of local fauna and flora.
Next steps and expectations
With the agreement signed, the expectation is that the PPP notice will be published in the second quarter of 2025, with the auction scheduled for the second half of the same year.
The initial forecast is that the works will take approximately five years to be completed, with adjustments to the schedule being possible depending on any technical or environmental challenges.
Today, the construction of the tunnel is seen as a milestone for the state's infrastructure and a victory for both Tarcísio de Freitas, who seeks to consolidate his administration with major works, and for Lula, who reinforces his presence in a strategic state for the 2026 elections.
