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The Santos-Guarujá tunnel, budgeted at over R$6 billion, promises to revolutionize mobility between cities in São Paulo. It will be the first underwater tunnel in Latin America, with six lanes and areas for pedestrians and cyclists. Approved by the TCU, the project seeks to combine technological advances with environmental preservation.
Brazil is preparing to take a bold step in engineering and urban mobility with a project that promises to revolutionize the connection between two important cities in São Paulo.
Although it may seem like something out of a science fiction film, the idea of crossing the bottom of the sea is not only real, but also imminent.
However, the start of construction depends on one last bureaucratic hurdle. What will be the future of this billion-dollar project?
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Approved by the TCU, the mega project is about to come to fruition
O Santos-Guaruja Tunnel, whose construction is budgeted at more than R$6 billion, was officially submitted to the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) on October 30, 2024, according to information from the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor).
According to Minister Silvio Costa Filho, This work will be crucial to improving urban mobility and port logistics in the Baixada Santista region.
The project will be financed by a partnership between the federal government, the state of São Paulo and the private sector.
The government estimates that works will begin in 2025, immediately after final approval by the TCU and the auction of the concession for the management and maintenance of the tunnel for the next 30 years.
Structural innovation: an underwater tunnel in Latin America
This will be the first underwater tunnel built in Latin America, with a total length of approximately 870 meters and a depth of 21 meters.
The structure will connect the neighborhoods of downtown and Macuco, in Santos, to the district of Vicente de Carvalho, in Guarujá.
The tunnel was designed to accommodate different forms of transport.
In addition to the six traffic lanes – three in each direction – the project includes an adaptable passage for Light Rail Vehicles (LRV), as well as a corridor for cyclists and pedestrians. This configuration makes the project innovative and multifunctional.
History and current stage
The development of the project did not happen overnight. In March 2024, a public consultation gathered opinions on the proposal, allowing important adjustments in the planning phase.
Later, in September, the Ministry of Ports and Airports carried out a market survey to assess investor interest in the project.
The completion of these steps culminated in the submission of the project to the TCU, which, upon granting its approval, will release the auction notice.
Impacts on the Baixada Santista region
The local impact of the tunnel will be significant.
According to Minister Silvio Costa Filho, the project will help segregate urban traffic from port flow, facilitating the transportation of goods from the Port of Santos, which is the largest in Latin America.
Furthermore, the tunnel promises improve the quality of life for thousands of residents and workers in the region, who today face daily mobility difficulties.
Currently, the crossing between Santos and Guarujá is mainly done by ferries, which often cause long traffic jams.
Feasibility and challenges
While the project is bold, it also faces challenges. The complexity of building an underwater tunnel requires cutting-edge technology and environmental precautions.
According to experts consulted by the newspaper Coastal Diary, there are concerns about the impact on the local marine ecosystem. However, engineers guarantee that the techniques applied will minimize damage to the environment.
Another challenge is the high cost. Public-private partnerships are considered essential to make financing viable.
Furthermore, the provision of a 30-year concession ensures that the tunnel's maintenance is sustainable in the long term.
When does the work start?
The official forecast is that the works will begin in 2025, provided that the project receives rapid approval from the TCU.
The schedule depends on completing the final bureaucratic steps, including the auction notice and hiring the company responsible for execution.
Do you believe that the underwater tunnel can change the history of mobility in Brazil? Or will the high cost and environmental challenges jeopardize this dream?
Tarcísio is transforming SP with intelligence
40 years in 4 and if he wins the next election he will be the best governor Brazil has ever had
If this work was carried out by the federal government, I believe it would be just another pile of rubble like they did with the transposition of the São Francisco, but since Governor TARCÍSIO is in charge, it gave credibility.