Plans for Chile-Argentina tunnel progressing

Successful talks have been held between Chile and Argentina regarding the planned Agua Negra road tunnel that will link the two countries. Further talks will be carried out with regard to financing the project but these look set to be completed towards the end of August 2014, according to a report from Business News Americas. One option is for Argentina’s Government to pay for the construction with the costs being recovered through tolling but other financing solutions have also been discussed. The Agua Negra tunnel is expected to cost in the region of US$1 billion to construct and at 13km long, will be Latin America’s longest road tunnel when complete. The majority of the link, 72%, will be in Argentinia’s San Juan Province with the remaining 28% in Chile’s Region IV. So far the tunnel has attracted some 23 expressions of interest from various construction firms and the project is likely to open for tender towards the end of 2014.

The new tunnel will provide a welcome alternative to the two main existing routes, which are both subject to adverse weather conditions and also have capacity issues. Constructing the Agua Negra tunnel will help trade and communications between Chile and Argentina. The project will not be without its challenges however as it is being constructed at a considerable altitude, which will limit the performance of on-site personnel and machines alike while also facing tough winter weather. It has not been revealed at this stage whether the rock conditions will also provide a challenge.