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The tunnel project promises to revolutionize transportation on the coast. With a cost of R$6 billion, the construction will include six lanes, a connection to the VLT and easy access for pedestrians and cyclists. More than 9 jobs will be created, and the crossing will take just two minutes.
An underwater tunnel, the first in all of Latin America, is about to become a reality on the coast of São Paulo, connecting the cities of Santos and Guarujá in a crossing that should take just two minutes.
The project promises to revolutionize urban mobility in the region and profoundly impact the logistics of the Port of Santos, with a structure that will cross the sea and include six traffic lanes, allowing pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and even Light Rail Vehicles (VLT) to connect the two cities quickly and safely.
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The Santos-Guarujá Tunnel project, valued at R$6 billion, already has significant support from the Government of São Paulo and the Ministry of Ports and Airports, which together will cover 86% of the total value.
The remaining amount will be financed through a partnership with private sector companies, according to information from the state government.
The auction to define the company responsible for the construction is scheduled for the second half of 2025, and the work is expected to be inaugurated in 2028.
What will the tunnel that will cross the sea be like?
The tunnel will be 860 meters long and will be located at a depth of 21 meters.
It will have six lanes, three in each direction, and will also allow the VLT to pass through one of the lanes.
Access will be from the Outeirinhos pier, in the Macuco neighborhood, in Santos, and via the Codesp power line, in Vicente de Carvalho, in Guarujá.
Adding the access roads, the total length of the work will reach 3 kilometers, allowing a direct connection between the two cities that currently takes almost an hour by car.
Drastic reduction in crossing time
Currently, the crossing between Santos and Guarujá is done by ferry and road. With the ferry, the average time is 18 minutes, but it can be longer due to the waiting time of up to 15 minutes.
Via the Cônego Domenico Rangoni highway, which connects the cities in a 43 km route, the journey takes about an hour.
The new underwater tunnel will reduce this crossing to just two minutes, according to projections from the Port Authority of Santos (APS).
It is estimated that more than 21 vehicles, in addition to 7.700 cyclists and 7.600 pedestrians, use the tunnel daily.
Urban and environmental impact
To make the project viable, several urban adaptations were planned.
In Santos, a “superblock” will be created in the Macuco neighborhood, in a space equivalent to four football fields, with the aim of minimizing the impact of the work on homes.
This intervention includes the relocation of 700 families to new residential areas, ensuring the preservation of the quality of life of local residents.
In Guarujá, the tunnel route will be diverted from areas undergoing redevelopment, adding 1,5 km of extension to the Cônego Domênico Rangoni highway, to facilitate access for heavy vehicles and public transport.
The structure will have a cycle lane and pedestrian crossing, making it a multifunctional and accessible space.
Jobs and development for the region
A tunnel construction is seen not only as a mobility solution, but also as an economic opportunity for the region.
It is estimated that the project will create around 9 thousand direct and indirect jobs, benefiting workers from different sectors and boosting the local economy.
Furthermore, the tunnel will allow for more fluid integration with the Guarujá Regional Airport, which is under development, and will contribute to the growth of the logistics infrastructure of the Port of Santos, which is one of the busiest in Latin America.
According to the Port Authority, the tunnel will not interfere with the works to deepen the port channel, ensuring that the flow of ships also remains uninterrupted.
Next steps and expectations
With the sanction of the bill authorizing the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) by the Government of São Paulo, the contracting and development stages are advancing.
According to the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo (Alesp), the project encompasses everything from construction to operation and tunnel maintenance, ensuring the continued responsibility of the company winning the auction.
The expectation is that, with the completion of the works, mobility between Santos and Guarujá will be completely transformed, providing not only a faster and safer alternative, but also encouraging sustainable urban development for the coming years.
With this, the local population and the thousands of tourists who visit the coast of São Paulo will be able to enjoy a new mobility experience, while the region gains a new impetus for growth and innovation.
How do you think this billion-dollar project will impact the daily lives of residents and the economy of the coast of São Paulo?
In Argentina there is a submerged tunnel of the same type under the Paraná River, for some years now.