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The government opts for an innovative solution to connect cities: an underwater tunnel. The decision avoids limitations and promises to bring an unprecedented and strategic project to the state. This structure, in addition to being functional, should boost the regional economy and urban mobility.
Imagine the expectation of a monumental bridge connecting Itajaí and Navegantes.
This idea, which seemed like the obvious choice to connect the two cities in a modern and efficient way, was recently put aside by the Government of Santa Catarina.
Instead, the surprising decision was to build a underwater tunnel, an ambitious and unprecedented project in Brazil. But after all, what led the government to opt for this curious and challenging solution?
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Strategic decision to avoid height restrictions
According to NSC Total website, the coordinator of the mobility project, João Luiz Demantova, states that the decision to build a tunnel and not a bridge was strongly influenced by a specific infrastructure issue.
As he explained, the bridge initially planned would need to be high enough to not obstruct the passage of large ships traveling along the Itajaí-Açu River towards local ports.
To ensure this safe and fluid navigation, studies indicated that the bridge would have to reach approximately Meters 65 at the highest point.
Challenges of Navegantes Airport for the project
Although it was technically feasible to raise the structure to this level, the project came up against another limitation: the presence of Navegantes Airport.
According to aviation safety regulations, buildings near the aircraft approach area cannot exceed Meters 45.
This restriction includes the exact point where the bridge would cross the river, making the original project unfeasible.
The innovation of the submerged tunnel as a viable solution
Faced with the impasse, the submerged tunnel presented itself as a possible and advantageous alternative.
Although it is still a rare project in the country, the necessary technology is already used in other parts of the world to solve similar problems.
The construction method involves dividing the tunnel into blocks, which are prepared in advance and then submerged into the riverbed, where they are sealed to prevent water from entering.
This innovation has not yet been implemented on a large scale in Brazil, but Santa Catarina seems determined to take the lead.
Comparisons and implementation deadlines
Besides Santa Catarina, the only other underwater tunnel project underway in the country is located between Santos and Guaruja, in São Paulo, but faces several delays.
With this, the State sees a unique opportunity to inaugurate a different construction model, which can serve as a reference for future works in other regions.
The expectation is that the notice for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) responsible for tunnel construction in Itajaí to be launched in the first half of next year.
The forecast, according to the state government, is that the project will boost not only urban mobility, but also the economic development of the region, facilitating the movement of people and goods between the two cities.
What will the impact be on the local economy?
The choice of the submerged tunnel represents more than a technical innovation.
In addition to avoiding the height problems imposed by the airport, this work tends to create economic opportunities, boost jobs during the construction phase and reinforce Santa Catarina's strategic position in the logistics scenario.
According to analysts, the forecast is that the infrastructure will better connect the Santa Catarina coast, reducing travel time and improving access to the port of Itajaí, which is one of the largest in the country.
How will the residents of Itajaí and Navegantes receive this unprecedented project? Will the project be completed on time and with the required quality? Will this tunnel bring the expected development to the region?
Meanwhile, since the 70s, an underwater tunnel was designed to connect Rio to Niterói. This is very important because it would be used for the subway to connect the two cities, which would ease traffic on the bridge and could eliminate the need for ferries, with great environmental benefits... The subway would go as far as São Gonçalo and/or Itaboraí...
Unprecedented no…
The one in Sao Paulo has been planned for a long time…
If there is a PPP in the deal, they will certainly charge a hefty toll to go through the tunnel.
At least there will be the tunnel!
And those who don't want to pay can continue using BR101 as a form of access.
In the seventies, there was talk and even some studies for a work of this type to be carried out on the Rio Grande/São José do Norte crossing, but this was later discarded.
It is a shame that the country with the most potential on planet Earth has this plague of inefficient politicians without the technical or innovative capabilities to open up the horizons of prosperity necessary for us to have a high quality of life and be the power we deserve to be…
This tunnel or little bridge... has supposedly been blah-blah-blah for the last 30 years... will SANTA CATARINA politicians finally be efficient... competitive and independent??????