The Project
About the Tunnel
The Santos-Guarujá Tunnel will be Brazil’s first immersed crossing — a dry link between the two cities that will reduce travel time from about 50 minutes to less than 5 minutes.
Immersed crossing
Project dimensions
Approximately 1.5 km in length, with 870 meters submerged under the Port of Santos channel, the tunnel will have three traffic lanes in each direction, one of them adapted for the future implementation of a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, in addition to areas dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists.
Technology
How an immersed tunnel works
Unlike a bored tunnel, an immersed tunnel is built from precast concrete modules in a dry dock. Once ready, these modules are floated to their final location and sunk, one by one, into a trench prepared in the channel bed, where they are joined together to form the complete structure.
A bridge crossing of the channel was ruled out because it would need to be very high to allow ships to pass, in addition to constraints from the proximity of Guarujá Airport. A traditional bored tunnel was also discarded, as that option would require going much deeper to find firm ground, significantly increasing the cost of the works.
Immersed tunnels are a globally established, safe engineering solution already in use on some of today’s most challenging infrastructure projects in several countries. Although new to Brazil, the track record of this technology and its proven effectiveness make it a viable and reliable alternative for future underwater crossings in the country.
The Project
Impacts and Transformations
The Santos-Guarujá Tunnel will transform the daily routine of those who live, work and travel through Baixada Santista. The crossing between the two cities, which today takes around 50 minutes, will be made in less than 5 minutes, expanding access to jobs, healthcare, education and leisure between Santos and Guarujá.
Urban mobility
Pedestrians and cyclists are exempt from tolls and have dedicated space in the tunnel, expanding travel options for those who cross the channel daily with greater safety and agility.
Logistics, Port of Santos and the Environment
By directly connecting both banks for trucks, the tunnel eliminates the need for a detour of more than 40 km by road. This reduces operating costs, speeds up cargo transport and strengthens the competitiveness of the Port of Santos, one of Latin America’s largest port complexes and a cornerstone of Brazilian foreign trade. This shorter road journey also helps reduce the CO2 emissions associated with that travel, aligning with the concession’s environmental commitments.
Regional development and employment
A implantação e a operação do projeto contribuirão para a geração de empregos diretos e indiretos e para o desenvolvimento econômico da Baixada Santista.
A decades-long project that becomes reality
Discussed for nearly a century, the Santos-Guarujá Tunnel represents more than an infrastructure project. It is the answer to a historic demand from the people of Baixada Santista for a safe, fast and definitive link between the two cities.