On June 9, the Government of São Paulo republished the tender for the Santos-Guaruja immersed tunnel. The improvements to the tender are the direct result of the contributions collected during the international roadshow promoted by the Government of São Paulo in Europe, which brought together international contractors.
The project - organized by the Secretariat of Investment Partnerships (SPI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports and Airports, represents a milestone in Brazilian engineering: the opening of the bids will take place on September 5, 2025 at the headquarters of B3, in São Paulo.
The new version of the tender introduces technical and operational adjustments to the concession model, with the aim of increasing the attractiveness of the private sector, ensuring legal certainty of the process and ensuring greater efficiency in the execution of the contract. The 1.5 km-long tunnel (870 m under the estuary channel) will be the first of its kind in Brazil to use the international technique of immersed tunnels. The infrastructure will have three lanes in each direction, one of which will be reserved exclusively for light rail vehicles (LRV), as well as a tunnel for pedestrians and cyclists. The concession will last 30 years, with an estimated investment of 1.7 billion euros (6.8 billion Brazilian reais) and will cover the construction, operation and maintenance phases of the link.
The model now allows for the submission of public offers for both public consideration and public contribution, encouraging greater competition and the search for more advantageous proposals for the government. The deadline for submitting offers is 1 September at 10:00 a.m. and the opening of proposals will take place on 5 September at 4:00 p.m.
The draft contract has been improved with provisions that strengthen the financial balance and legal certainty of the concession. The contract also includes guarantees for the concessionaire, with mechanisms that ensure predictability and contractual protection.
Other changes include the creation of the Expropriation Account, adjustments to the risk allocation criteria - particularly geological and interference - and the definition of provisional solutions for the Outeirinhos dock and the Guarujá railway yard, which will ensure the operation of the port and logistics infrastructure during the execution of the works.
Currently, the connection between Santos and Guaruja is guaranteed by ferries and trams, which transport more than 21,000 vehicles, 7,700 cyclists and 7,600 pedestrians every day. The new tunnel aims to improve mobility, providing greater comfort, agility and safety to the population. It is estimated that it will generate around 9,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The project - the result of a partnership between the State Government, the Ministry of Ports and Airports, the State Transport Agency of São Paulo (ARTESP), the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ) and the Port Authority of Santos - is qualified in the State Investment Partnership Program (PPI-SP) and is part of the New PAC of the Federal Government.
For further information click here and br/25 or br/28 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://www.parceriaseminvestimentos.sp.gov.br. 24/25.
