Central Range Crossing Project - Second Centennial Tunnel (La Linea Tunnel) - Phase I The project comprises of the following phases:
Phase I. Exploratory tunnel construction (2005-2008).
This phase began in April 2005, and consists of construction of an exploratory 8.7 km tunnel with a 4.50 m in diameter. This tunnel would be used initially as an emergency access
8 Conducted by Nippon Koei Co., Ltd with financing by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in July 2006.
9 A schematic representation of the project is provided in Annex III.
16 tunnel, with 17 access points interconnecting it to the first tube tunnel, being eventually converted into the second tube tunnel.
Ongoing construction is well advanced with drilling taking place from both sides.
Work is ahead of schedule and the tunnel will apparently be completed under budget, since rock quality has been better than expected and also because no methane gas or thermal waters have been found, despite the proximity of the Machin volcano. The tunnel should be completed by mid-2008, with a progress estimated at 71% (September 2007). The exploratory tunnel is being financed by CAF. Phase II. Tunnel One: Construction of the first tube uni-directional tunnel. (2008-2013).
a) Tunnel Construction.
This phase foresees the development of the studies and final designs necessary for the construction, commissioning and maintenance of the tunnel, including the acquisition, installation and testing of electro-mechanical equipment. This is the phase the current proposal would co-finance. It is estimated that excavations will be completed by May 2011,
with final completion (including pavement, cement lining etc.) programmed for the end of 2012/early 2013. Once completed, the Tunnel La Linea (II Centennial) will be the longest tunnel in the American continents and amongst the top twenty world-wide.
Tentatively, the basic design of the project calls for the construction of an 8,805m tunnel with a slope of 0.98%. A minimum width of 9.3m would be drilled in order to accommodate two 4 meter lanes and 65cm side platforms. Parking niches every 1 km are also planned as well as two ventilation wells10 with an internal diameter of 8.5 meters.
Furthermore, the tunnel will be equipped by an integrated follow-up and data acquisition control system, lighting, ventilation, fire detection, extinguishing and rescue systems, digital signage and CCTV amongst others.
b) Expansion of road capacity.
A new two-lane road will be constructed to connect Cajamarca and Calarc� to the tunnel, on the west and east sides respectively. The expansion is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010. Financing of this part of Phase II is currently budgeted by the Colombian Authorities and will not be covered by the proposed loan.
Sections Length Gradients Points of Return
Cajamarca-Bermellon 12.5 km 4% - 9% 2
America-Calarc� 11.2 4% - 10% 2
Phase III. Tunnel Two: Construction of the second tube tunnel. (2012-2017).
a) Tunnel Construction.
The construction of the second one-way tunnel is approximately 8.7 km in length. This phase consists of expanding the exploratory tunnel built in phase I. This implementation is programmed to begin in 2012, since projections show that the first one-way tunnel could begin to experiment problems capacity in 2017, when this second tunnel should be ready to enter into operation. Nevertheless, the National Authorities have indicated they will continue
to monitor traffic volumes to determine whether it may become necessary to begin this phase earlier than 2012.
10 The ventilation wells are known as Alaska and Los Andes, with a depth of 450m and 500m respectively.
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b) Expansion of road capacity.
A new two-lane road will be constructed to connect Cajamarca and Calarc� to the tunnel, on the west and east sides respectively.