By Ashley Karen
A smooth and good progress is being marked on Colombia’s Toyo Tunnel project following the award by the country’s national highway institute Invias of two contracts worth a combined US$222m.
The first contract (Module 1) which is worth US$115m has been awarded to Constructions El Condor. This module includes a 10km access road that is connecting the 9.8km main tunnel to the Autopista al Mar 1 highway, and four extra tunnels.
Module 2 which is the second contract (US$107m) has been awarded to the Vias Colombia 061 consortium. It contains six tunnels, 13 bridges and nine kilometers of access roads. Works on both the contracts is anticipated to start in May or June 2021. At the moment, work on the main tunnel is approx. 50% done and local officials state that it is anticipated to have the tunnel open by 2022.
Toyo Tunnel project which is located around 120km from the city of Medellín in the province of Antioquia, has a total funding value of about US$385m which comprise the 10km main tunnel, access roads, and other tunnels and bridges required for the project.
The project is being constructed through a very mountainous area containing mainly volcanic and limestone rocks, siltstone and volcanic mud. NATM is being used for both the main and shorter tunnels. The works are to substantially improve the link between Medellín and the Urabá region, reducing journey times from six hours to nearly three and a half.
