Mega Underwater Tunnel In Brazilian State Promises Solution To Mobility Crisis And Work Start Date Is Set

Written by Alisson Ficher

Published on 08/01/2025 at 12:31

Mega túnel subaquático em Santa Catarina promete transformar a mobilidade entre Itajaí e Navegantes com uma obra inédita no Brasil.

4 people reacted to this.

It Already Has a Date to Start the Construction of an Underwater Tunnel Designed to Solve the Mobility Crisis Between Two Brazilian Cities. At 580 Meters Long, the Project Promises to Transform Local and Regional Logistics, but Will Financial and Technological Challenges Be Overcome on Time?

On the coast of Santa Catarina, a groundbreaking construction proposal promises to transform mobility between the cities of Itajaí and Navegantes.

An mega underwater tunnel, with a length of 580 meters, will begin to be built between 23 and 29 meters below the bed of the Itajaí-Açu River.

This project is considered one of the boldest in Brazil and promises to be the definitive solution to a historical transportation crisis in the region.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

A Work Without Precedents in Brazil

To this day, Brazil does not have large-scale underwater tunnel projects.

In an interview, Paulo Bornhausen, state secretary of International Articulation and Strategic Projects, emphasized that the technology for constructing underwater tunnels is already a reality in Asia and Europe, with several works being carried out on these continents.

However, in Brazil, this technology is still in the adaptation phase, making the project even more challenging.

The construction of the tunnel will be done using prefabricated modules that will be submerged under the Itajaí-Açu River.

According to Bornhausen, the work will not only meet the need to improve transportation between the two cities but will also help boost regional development by connecting strategic areas for industry and commerce.

The Economic Impact and the Costs of the Project

The construction of the underwater tunnel has an estimated cost of US$ 180 million.

The project also includes the construction of three traffic lanes in each direction, with one dedicated to rapid bus transport (BRT), as well as areas for pedestrians and cyclists.

According to the feasibility study, public investments totaling US$ 120 million should generate a return of US$ 290 million in regional economic growth within 15 years.

The expectation is that the project will be partially financed through toll collection.

The rates may vary between R$ 4.50 and R$ 10, depending on the mode used.

The consortium responsible for the project brings together 11 municipalities in Santa Catarina, including Itajaí, Navegantes, Balneário Camboriú, Camboriú, and Bombinhas, which together represent an economy of R$ 73.29 billion, or 17.1% of the GDP of Santa Catarina.

The Importance of the Project for Regional Development

For Bornhausen, the construction of the underwater tunnel represents a “true bypass” for a region with great growth potential but limited by logistical difficulties.

The lack of transportation alternatives between the two cities directly impacts the flow of goods and the mobility of people, preventing the full development of the region.

In addition, the project is part of a larger initiative that aims not only to improve local transportation but also to implement a regional public transport system with 70 electric buses and an active mobility program in Balneário Camboriú.

Other Underwater Tunnel Projects in Brazil

The idea of constructing underwater tunnels is not exclusive to Santa Catarina.

In São Paulo, a similar project is underway to connect the municipalities of Santos and Guarujá.

The tunnel, which will be 1.5 km long and 860 meters submerged, is budgeted at R$ 5.96 billion and is expected to be completed by 2028.

Like the project in Santa Catarina, this work is financed through a PPP and aims to improve the transportation infrastructure between the two municipalities.

The Future of Mobility in Santa Catarina

Promobis and the underwater tunnel represent an important step in transforming mobility in Santa Catarina.

The expectation is that, with the completion of the works, the region will become more competitive, attracting new businesses and boosting economic growth.

However, it is essential that technical and financial challenges are overcome to ensure the success of the work.

Do you believe that projects like this are the key to solving mobility problems in Brazil’s large cities?

2 Comments

most recent

older Most voted

Walkyria

#111531

12/01/2025 13:33

… espero de coração, que essas obras sejam completadas do início ao fim, sem problemas financeiros e paradas das obras, sem jogos políticos e que termine na data prevista!!!

Respond

Paulo Nelson

#110465

08/01/2025 17:51

Tomara que saia do papel, para a realidade

Respond

Mega Underwater Tunnel In Brazilian State Promises Solution To Mobility Crisis And Work Start Date Is Set

It Already Has a Date to Start the Construction of an Underwater Tunnel Designed to Solve the Mobility Crisis Between Two Brazilian Cities. At 580 Meters Long, the Project Promises to Transform Local and Regional Logistics, but Will Financial and Technological Challenges Be Overcome on Time?

A Work Without Precedents in Brazil

The Economic Impact and the Costs of the Project

Other Underwater Tunnel Projects in Brazil

The Future of Mobility in Santa Catarina

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Mega Underwater Tunnel In Brazilian State Promises Solution To Mobility Crisis And Work Start Date Is Set

It Already Has a Date to Start the Construction of an Underwater Tunnel Designed to Solve the Mobility Crisis Between Two Brazilian Cities. At 580 Meters Long, the Project Promises to Transform Local and Regional Logistics, but Will Financial and Technological Challenges Be Overcome on Time?

A Work Without Precedents in Brazil

The Economic Impact and the Costs of the Project

Other Underwater Tunnel Projects in Brazil

The Future of Mobility in Santa Catarina

A giant printer called the “Ferrari” of concrete has landed in Latin America and can already build a 120-square-meter house in just 48 hours, making the traditional construction site look like something from the last century.

Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has ceased to be a climatic phenomenon and has become a biological system that feeds on itself, with 8,000 kilometers in length, 37 million tons of algae, and scientists confirm that it is now permanent.

Brazil will harvest a record crop of up to 357 million tons of grains, but it does not have the capacity to store a large part of it. The storage deficit has reached the highest level in history and is equivalent to almost the entire production of Argentina.

She started by collecting oyster shells from restaurants and today she has already accumulated more than 10 tons to restore reefs, recover coastal habitats, and demonstrate how a common waste can become a tool for ocean conservation.

Philippines begin construction of the country’s largest desalination plant in a city without enough fresh water to grow, and the 66,500 m³ per day plant will transform the sea into drinking water for 50,000 homes in 24 months with reverse osmosis technology from SUEZ and JEMCO.

Turkey is building a billion-dollar shortcut to channel billions of dollars by sea with a 45 km long canal, 275 meters wide and 20.75 meters deep, which promises to relieve the Bosphorus amid the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

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