The government announced the construction of an underwater tunnel between Santos and Guarujá, the first in Latin America. The work will improve mobility, the environment and the economy in the region.
An old dream of more than 100 years is about to become reality: the land connection between the cities of Santos and Guarujá, on the coast of São Paulo, through an underwater tunnel that will pass under the channel of the port of Santos, the largest in America Latin. The project, which is a partnership between the federal and state governments, was announced last Friday, (02/02), and promises to revolutionize the urban mobility in the region.
Features of the underwater tunnel: extension, lanes, cycle path and walkway
The underwater tunnel will be 1,5 km long, 870 meters under the canal, and will have three traffic lanes in each direction, one of them reserved for Light Rail Vehicles (VLT).
Furthermore, the tunnel will have a cycle path and a pedestrian walkway, ensuring the accessibility and sustainability of the tunnel. project.
The estimated crossing time by car will be just one and a half minutes, reducing the journey between the two cities by around 50 minutes.
Stages of work on the 1st underwater tunnel that will connect Santos to Guarujá
The work will be a milestone in civil engineering, as it will be the first underwater tunnel in Latin America and one of the few in the world.
The tunnel will be made up of six prefabricated reinforced concrete modules, which will be immersed at a minimum depth of 21 meters in the channel bed.
The modules will be produced in a dry dock and transported by floating to the construction site, where they will be fitted and fixed, without interfering with ship traffic in the canal.
The underwater tunnel construction process involves several complex steps, which require detailed and rigorous planning.
First, an executive project is created, which takes into account the geology, environment, structural dimensioning and logistics of the work.
Then, the modules are manufactured in a dry dock, with specific dimensions and characteristics to adapt to the tunnel.
Then, the modules are transported by floating to the construction site, avoiding the use of land routes.
Before installing the modules, the channel bed is prepared to receive the structures, with excavations, leveling and other necessary interventions.
The modules are then gradually submerged into the channel bed, fitted and secured securely to form the tunnel.
This process is delicate and needs to be done with precision to ensure structural integrity.
Finally, final safety and quality checks are carried out, and the necessary adjustments are made to ensure the stability and efficiency of the tunnel.
Benefits of the project for residents, the environment and the economy
The underwater tunnel will bring several benefits to the region, such as improving the flow of vehicles, reducing demand for the Ponta da Praia ferry, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
In addition to prioritizing the port channel for the transport of cargo and passengers, and the economic and social development of the two cities.
The estimated cost of the work is around R$5,8 billion, which will be divided between the Union and the state of São Paulo, each with 50% of the value.
The project is part of the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) and involves charging a toll in the tunnel, equivalent to the ferry fare, which is R$12,30 for passenger vehicles on weekdays.
However, there will be no toll charged for pedestrians.
The submerged tunnel between Santos and Guarujá is a innovative project, which will put Brazil in the spotlight of civil engineering in Latin America.
The work is eagerly awaited by residents and visitors of both cities, who will be able to enjoy a new, faster, safer and more sustainable form of connection.
Work is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2024, and completed by the end of 2027.
Source: Engenharia É
