Santos-Guarujá Tunnel Obtains Preliminary Environmental License and Advances to Auction

The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) auction is expected to take place on September 5th

The implementation of the immersed tunnel between Santos and Guarujá took another important step with the approval, last Thursday (7), of the technical report by the State Environmental Council (Consema). With this, the Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo (Cetesb) will issue the preliminary environmental license, attesting to the viability of the project and authorizing the advancement of the concession process.

The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) auction is expected to take place on September 5th at the São Paulo Stock Exchange (B3) headquarters. Preliminary licensing provides investors with greater legal certainty and helps reduce the risk of construction delays by clearly stating that the project already has environmental approval to proceed.

"CETESB carefully analyzed the project's socio-environmental impacts and established clear conditions for the project to be carried out responsibly and safely. This is a fundamental project for the mobility and sustainable development of Baixada Santista," stated CETESB CEO Thomaz Toledo.

The license defines parameters that the winning consortium must meet in the next stages of the licensing process, such as installation and operating licenses. The project must also present environmental mitigation and compensation solutions, as well as communication initiatives with the local population. Only after this stage will construction be possible.

With an estimated investment of over R$6 billion, the tunnel will be 870 meters long under the port canal, directly connecting the cities of Santos and Guarujá. The structure will have three lanes in each direction—one of which will be reserved for Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs)—a pedestrian and cyclist walkway, and a service gallery.

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA/RIMA), the tunnel should help relieve pressure on current crossing systems. Currently, the 43-km journey along the Cônego Domênico Rangoni Highway takes an average of 60 minutes. Ferries, used by pedestrians, cyclists, and light vehicles, can take up to an hour, depending on port operating conditions.

The São Paulo government sees the new connection as a permanent alternative to solving this historic bottleneck. The project is expected to generate approximately 9,000 direct and indirect jobs during its construction.