Tunnel between Santos and Guarujá already has a forecast for the launch of the bidding notice

The connection project includes a 1.5-kilometer route, linking the Outeirinhos and Macuco regions in Santos to Vicente de Carvalho in Guarujá (Vanessa Rodrigues/AT)

The Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) will launch the bidding notice for the Santos-Guarujá immersed tunnel by the end of this month, probably on the 27th. According to A Tribuna gathered informations, the decision was made this Wednesday (12) during a meeting between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), and Minister Silvio Costa Filho in Brasília.

The report found out that the governor intended to open the bidding process through the State Government this month and, therefore, requested the meeting with Lula — which was not on the official agenda. The president, in turn, called Costa Filho to adjust the procedures.

Last month, the governor and the minister met at the São Paulo State Government headquarters to discuss the bidding process, as the State wanted to publish the notice in February, while MPor planned for August or September. This is because the documentation is still under review by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU).

The submerged tunnel will be built in the access channel of the Port of Santos. The planned investment is R\$ 5.96 billion, with R\$ 5.13 billion in public funding, equally divided between the State and the Federal Government. The remaining amount will come from the future private concessionaire, to be contracted through a public-private partnership (PPP).

The submerged part of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel will be installed at a depth of 21 meters and will extend for 870 meters, allowing dredging up to 20 meters, according to the Federal Government (Reproduction)

Additionally, according to information gathered, the agreement for launching the Santos-Guarujá tunnel bidding notice by MPor may involve investments in the Port of São Sebastião, located on the northern coast. The port complex is managed by the State Secretariat for the Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics (Semil).

On social media, Minister Silvio Costa Filho posted photos of the meeting with Tarcísio, mentioning that the “meeting was productive” and that they discussed “strategic actions to drive the State’s growth by strengthening infrastructure, logistics, and regional development.”

Finally, he added that they discussed “investments that generate opportunities, connect regions, and transform people's lives.”

The report contacted MPor and the State Government for further details; however, neither provided a statement.

Minister Silvio Costa Filho and Governor Tarcísio de Freitas discussed the project and signed documents this Wednesday (12) in Brasília; the content was not disclosed by the governments (Reproduction)

Project model The State Government approved the final modeling of the Santos-Guarujá immersed tunnel on Monday, during a meeting of the São Paulo State Investment Partnerships Program Council (PPI-SP), on Monday (10). As previously reported by A Tribuna , the project will be carried out through a public-private partnership (PPP). The governor participated in the meeting.