The Bolivian road administration (ABC) has started on 26th August the construction of the Falda de la Queí±ua bypass road tunnel, during an official ceremony held in El Molino in the Iscayachi municipality. The Falda de la Queí±ua bypass road, which forms part of the Potosi-Tarija road link, will reduce transport time from Potosi to Tarija, avoiding the Sama hill. The 1,220 m tunnel, located at El Condor mountain pass in the Tarija department, will be constructed by the La Queí±ua joint venture, led by construction company Roca, for USD8.4 million. The project will be supervised by the CPS-Belmonte joint venture. The detailed design of the Falda de la Queí±ua bypass road was carried out by the Ecoplan-Noronha joint venture. The tunnel will cross rock of Class III (Bieniawski) with some stretches falling within Class IV and Class V associated with faults. The west mouth is located at a height of 3,402 m above sea level whereas the east mouth lies at a height of 3,339 m asl. There is a 63 m difference in height between the two sides. The tunnel will make the existing road seven kilometres shorter and reduce in approximately 500 metres the altitude of the 100% mountainous road through the Sama hill. The portals will be cut in rock and stabilised with steel anchors, metallic netting and a concrete layer. The tunnel will be concluded in August next year. Click here for more details (in Spanish). 36/08.