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The Historical Project That Promises to Transform the Link Between Santos and Guarujá Advances After the Confirmation of the Portuguese Company Mota-Engil, Marking the Beginning of a New Phase for the Infrastructure of the Paulista Coast.
The publication in the Official State Gazette, on Thursday (16), ended the appeals period and confirmed the Portuguese Mota-Engil as responsible for the implementation, operation, and maintenance of the Santos–Guarujá Immersed Tunnel for 30 years, under a public-private partnership model.
With this act, the winner of the auction held on September 5 is authorized to proceed to the contract signing and construction preparations.
Auction Confirmed and Next Step
The concession provides for an estimated investment of R$ 6.8 billion to build the submerged crossing that will connect Santos to Guarujá, on the São Paulo coast.
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The auction was conducted at B3, in the capital of São Paulo, and consolidated Mota-Engil as the leader of the project after the appeals phase.
The contract signing is the next formal step before mobilizing work sites and service fronts.
What The Submerged Crossing Will Be Like
According to the federal government, the tunnel will have a 1.5 km length, of which 870 meters will be submerged under the estuary, characterizing the first project of its kind in the country.
The fixed link promises to reduce the crossing time to about two minutes, replacing the current transfer by ferries, which takes an average of 18 minutes and is subject to queues and delays.
Governance and Environmental Monitoring
The Santos Port Authority (APS) announced that it has provided a room at its headquarters for the concessionaire’s team and that it will monitor the execution through the Permanent Regional Committee for Environmental Impact Monitoring, created to oversee the work’s interference in port operations and urban routine.
This includes a preliminary evaluation of actions, impact mitigation, and dialogue with the local community.
Alignment Meeting and Operational Guidelines
On October 9, representatives from the municipalities of Santos and Guarujá, APS, and Mota-Engil participated in an alignment meeting to define technical and operational guidelines for the project.
It was established that after the contract signing, specific meetings will take place regarding environment, interface with the port, and operational planning.
APS will also conduct an impact study on operations to guide potential interventions or temporary suspensions in the navigation channel.
The Roles of the Governments and the Port
The project is conducted by the federal government, through APS, in partnership with the Government of the State of São Paulo.
In the PPP modeling, the concession is for 30 years, after which the asset returns to the public sector.
APS acts as an intermediary, contributing to infrastructure works and holding the responsibility to approve and monitor measures that ensure the continuity of port activities during the tunnel’s execution.
Quotes and Symbolism for the Bay
Commenting on the publication in the Official Gazette, the president of APS, Anderson Pomini, stated: “This is a commitment we made that is taking shape, bringing this 100-year dream of the Baixada Santista closer.”
The statement highlights the regional expectation for a permanent dry link between the two banks of the estuary, a demand discussed for decades across different administrations.
Milestones of the Auction and Presence of Authorities
The auction on September 5 had the participation of federal and state authorities and ended with the selection of Mota-Engil’s proposal.
The federal government emphasized that the dispute integrated the portfolio of the New PAC and that the engineering solution is unprecedented in Brazil.
The official communication also mentioned the reduction of travel times and the effects on employment, income, and logistics in the Baixada Santista.
What Changes for Port Operations
While the contract is not signed, APS and the concessionaire are working on a schedule that aligns construction windows with the routine of moorings and maneuvers in the access channel.
The strategy includes scheduling interventions during periods of less impact and, when necessary, temporary interruptions agreed upon with operators and shipowners to preserve safety and productivity.
The regional committee will be the permanent forum to monitor risks, validate mitigation measures, and communicate temporary rules to transporters and port users.
Travessia no mar? Sério isso? É um canal, meus Deus.
Pela forma como nós brasileiros, temos sido tratados em Portugal, sou totalmente avesso a qualquer investimento lá e quaisquer aportes deles em quaisquer áreas, aqui.
Parabéns pelo seu trabalho que conseguiu fazer o serviço de qualidade.