São Paulo Approves Final Framework for Santos-Guarujá Immersed Tunnel Under PPP Model

The São Paulo State Government has approved the final framework for the Santos-Guarujá immersed tunnel project, advancing the plan under a public-private partnership (PPP). The decision was made Monday (10) during a meeting of the state’s Investment Partnership Program Council (PPI-SP).

Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) attended the meeting and is scheduled to meet today in Brasília with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho to discuss project details. However, as of yesterday, the meeting was not listed on any official agendas.

Project Overview

Qualified under São Paulo’s Investment Partnership Program (PPI-SP) and integrated into the federal Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), the tunnel is expected to cost nearly R$6 billion, with funding from the São Paulo State Government, the Federal Government, and private sector partners. Construction is projected to generate around 9,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Designed to address a long-standing demand from residents of the Baixada Santista region, the tunnel will significantly cut travel time between Santos and Guarujá. Currently, over 21,000 vehicles, 7,700 cyclists, and 7,600 pedestrians rely on ferries and barges to make the crossing daily.

The structure will span 1.5 km, with 870 meters submerged. It will feature three lanes in each direction, one dedicated to the Light Rail Vehicle (VLT), along with exclusive access for pedestrians and cyclists.

Auction Process

Last month, the tunnel’s bidding process was a key topic in discussions between Minister Silvio Costa Filho and Governor Tarcísio de Freitas in São Paulo. Efforts to fast-track the concession timeline remain unresolved. According to A Tribuna, the State Government aims to publish the bid notice this month, while the Federal Government anticipates a June release, with bidding expected in September. The project is still under review by Brazil’s Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), which must sign off before the process moves forward.

30-Year Concession

The company awarded the concession will be responsible for building, operating, and maintaining the tunnel for 30 years. The project’s estimated R$5.96 billion price tag includes R$5.13 billion in public investment.

The tunnel will accommodate passenger vehicles, public transport, and trucks, along with a dedicated bike lane and pedestrian walkway. The project is being developed with technical support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through the São Paulo State Partnerships Company. Two international engineering consulting firms have validated the design, and preliminary environmental licensing is already in place.

The proposal has also undergone public consultations and hearings in both Santos and Guarujá. The Environmental Impact Study and Report (EIA-Rima) for the crossing is currently under review by the São Paulo State Environmental Company (Cetesb).

In Guarujá, the tunnel’s planned route will connect to the Cônego Domenico Rangoni Highway, separating truck traffic headed for the Left Bank terminals of the Port of Santos from urban traffic in Vicente de Carvalho. In Santos, property expropriations in the Macuco district remain a major sticking point.

Source: A Tribuna

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