Tunnel project between Santos and Guarujá presented to Congress commission

Anderson Pomini, President of the Santos Port Authority (APS), unveiled the new project of the Santos-Guarujá underwater tunnel to members of the Chamber of Deputies’ Road and Transport Commission on Tuesday afternoon (13) in Brasília. The project, estimated at BRL 5.850 billion, is set to be completed within four years, with a proposed toll charge similar to the current ferry crossing fee between Santos and Guarujá.

Currently, the crossing prices stand at R$ 12.30 for cars and R$ 6.20 for motorcycles, among other rates, only collected upon boarding on the Guaruja side. Pomini further stated that APS aims to commence tunnel construction in 2024, with a target completion date of 2027 or 2028. The project will be financed with resources from the port authority, BRICS New Development Bank, and concession contracts.

According to the project details, the tunnel entrances will be situated at Cais da Marinha dock on the Right Bank in Santos and in the area known as Prainha in Vicente de Carvalho, beneath Linhão, on the Left Bank. The planned submerged route remains unchanged, with a length of 860 meters.

During his presentation at the Brazilian capital, Pomini shared the investment timetable, explaining which funds will be allocated each year. However, he acknowledged that the amount is “subject to reduction due to competition.” The projected investments are as follows: BRL 50 million in 2023, BRL 1 billion in 2024, BRL 2.5 billion in 2025, BRL 1.3 billion in 2026, and BRL 1 billion in 2027/2028.

In 2022, the Bolsonaro administration estimated the project’s value at R$ 2.9 billion, and it was listed as a mandatory investment in the APS privatization plan, which did not progress during the Lula Government.

Conflicting Jurisdiction

Rafael Benini, Secretary of Investment Partnerships at the state of São Paulo, who was also at the Road and Transport Commission session, defended the competence of the State Government to develop an alternative project and grant the tunnel’s construction and operation to a private concessionaire through a public-private partnership (PPP).

“Through a 30-year concession model, the operator can build and determine an appropriate tariff. The PPP would mean increased efficiency,” argued Benini. However, Pomini refuted this possibility, stating, “It would take seven years just to conclude the concession through a PPP.”

When questioned about the possibility of constructing a new road as a potential alternative to the Anchieta-Imigrantes System (SAI), Benini discussed two ongoing projects under consideration by the state: the Green Line and the third Planalto-Baixada Santista highway. Elaborating further, he explained that the Green Line project entails a route starting from the East Ring Road near Suzano, extending to the Left Bank of Porto along the Cônego Domenico Rangoni Highway.

“The Green Line project is currently in the Expression of Interest Procedure (EIP) phase, with a construction period of seven years from the contract signing. We are evaluating which project offers the best cost-benefit ratio for the state,” he clarified.

During the session, Tarcísio Barreto Celestino, a member of the Brazilian Tunnel Committee, emphasized that the underwater project is the most efficient, operationally effective, and safe solution to connect Santos and Guarujá.

Perimeter Road

Before departing for Brasília on Tuesday morning (13), Pomini visited Idalino Pinez Street, commonly known as Manure Street [Rua do Adubo], a key truck access route to the terminals on the Left Bank of the Port of Santos.

In a video shared on social media, Pomini expressed his intention to submit a request to the Minister of Ports and Airports, Márcio França, seeking federal funding to renovate the perimeter road, including Manure Street. The objective is to expand the capacity of the current two thousand trucks per day to five thousand. Pomini stressed the urgency of addressing the significant logistical problem at hand.

According to the President of APS, investments in the perimeter road in Guarujá will be incorporated into the upcoming version of the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), set to be announced next month by the Federal Government. The road corridor will connect with the underwater tunnel project.

Key Details

During his presentation, President Anderson Pomini highlighted several important figures related to the underwater tunnel project:

• 78,000 individuals expected;
• 860-meter length to connect the two banks of the port;
• Completion of the journey in just two minutes;
• Planned integration with the VLT (Light Rail Transit);
• Assured benefits for cyclists and pedestrians;
• Navigation guarantee for large ships;
• Expected reduction of 710,640 t of CO2 over ten years;
• Improved efficiency of port operations;
• Enhancement of port hinterland areas;
• Integration with the future Guarujá Airport;
• Provision of housing for 700 families in Prainha, Guarujá;
• Potential benefit to up to 10 million tourists.

Sharing is caring!