Tunnel between Santos and Guarujá approved by Cetesb and moves forward to auction

Tunnel will surface in Vicente de Carvalho (pictured), Guarujá, starting from the Macuco region in Santos (Vanessa Rodrigues/AT)

The Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo (Cetesb) issued on Monday (11) the preliminary environmental license for the immersed tunnel connecting Santos and Guarujá. The authorization confirms the environmental feasibility of the project and allows the progress of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), whose auction is scheduled for September 5 at the São Paulo Stock Exchange (B3) headquarters.

“The future winning consortium will already compete for the concession with the assurance of an approved initial environmental license, a measure that helps reduce risks and delays in project implementation” stated Cetesb in a release.

This first license establishes the environmental parameters that must be met by the consortium of companies that wins the auction. This will enable the granting of the installation license, to begin construction, and the operation license, for the full functioning of the immersed tunnel.

During the technical analysis, Cetesb evaluated aspects such as impacts on mangroves, noise, expropriations, conservation units, and effects on the region's fauna and flora.

The future concessionaire will be responsible for presenting detailed environmental mitigation and compensation plans, as well as communication programs with the local population. Only after fulfilling these requirements will it be possible to obtain the necessary licenses to start construction.

Project With an estimated investment of over R\$ 6 billion, the project foresees the construction of an 870-meter tunnel beneath the port channel, linking Santos and Guarujá. The structure will feature three lanes in each direction, one of which will be reserved for Light Rail Transit (VLT), as well as a path for pedestrians and cyclists and a service gallery.

According to the Environmental Impact Study and Environmental Impact Report (EIA-Rima), presented in July 2024, the tunnel aims to solve a long-standing mobility bottleneck between the two municipalities.

Currently, there are two main modes of crossing: a 43-kilometer route via the Rodovia Cônego Domênico Rangoni, used by commercial vehicles, with an average travel time of 60 minutes; and the ferry and boat system, used by pedestrians, cyclists, and light vehicles, with crossing times ranging from 18 to 60 minutes depending on the port’s operational conditions.

The new connection is expected to ease pressure on the current crossing system and improve the region’s logistics integration. The project is estimated to generate around 9,000 direct and indirect jobs during its execution.

Consema Prior to the issuance of the preliminary license, the State Environmental Council (Consema) approved last Thursday the technical opinion issued by Cetesb in favor of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel project.

The extraordinary meeting took place at the State Secretariat for Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics (Semil), in São Paulo.

Cetesb had already expressed a favorable position regarding the project last month, after reviewing the EIA-Rima prepared by the Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas (Fipe) and submitted by the State Secretariat for Investment Partnerships (SPI) last year.

The report concluded that the socio-environmental balance is positive, as the tunnel is considered strategic for the Baixada Santista region, with direct impacts on mobility, the economy, and quality of life.

Committee During the Consema meeting that approved Cetesb’s technical opinion for the issuance of the tunnel’s preliminary license, last Thursday (7), the councilors rejected the creation of the Permanent Regional Committee for Environmental Impact Monitoring. The committee had been proposed during the meeting by the Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB), based on a suggestion from the Autoridade Portuária de Santos (APS). The committee would include mechanisms for active participation of the Baixada Santista population during tunnel construction, ensuring shared management of impacts and conflict resolution. APS has requested reconsideration.