Tunnel route between Santos and Guarujá to be determined by auction winner

On land, on the Santos side, in the Macuco area, the final route of the immersed tunnel has not yet been defined; the company responsible for the project will need to resolve this issue (Sílvio Luiz/AT)

The final alignment of the Santos-Guarujá immersed tunnel in both cities will be defined “by the winning concessionaire based on the guidelines provided in the reference documents”, according to the State Government. This means that, despite the extensive public debate in recent months, the winning company of the upcoming auction on Friday will still be responsible for selecting the most viable route and identifying the properties to be expropriated.

As a result, property owners in the affected area in Macuco, Santos, are demanding definitive answers about how many and which properties will be removed, as well as how compensation amounts will be calculated.

The concession notice provides for the expropriation of 65 homes and commercial establishments on Rua José do Patrocínio, in an area totaling 43,000 square meters (m²). The proposed route includes a superblock between Rua José do Patrocínio and Avenida Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves, spanning from Avenida Senador Dantas to Rua Almirante Tamandaré. This would involve isolating the entire area for construction and tunnel access.

However, the superblock may not be the final solution. The initial project, developed by Dersa, envisioned a larger number of expropriations and has not been ruled out, explains José Santaella Redorat Jr., secretary of the Associação Comunitária do Macuco (Acom). “The number of expropriated properties increases from 65, in the superblock plan, to 195 under the Dersa project, which starts at Rua Padre Anchieta”, he stated.

The draft concession agreement for the tunnel offers the following options to those affected by expropriation: cash compensation, exchange for an equivalent or superior property nearby, resettlement in social housing, and compensation to business owners for 12 months.

The concession notice earmarks R\$ 544.3 million (March 2025 values) to be deposited into an expropriation account. This amount is exclusively allocated for compensation and resettlement and will be paid by the State Government to the future concessionaire.

Santaella questions: “Is this R\$ 544.3 million a base amount or a ceiling? Our concern is whether the State will pay R\$ 10,000 per square meter to each expropriated party.”

When contacted, the Secretaria de Parcerias em Investimentos do Estado de São Paulo (SPI) stated that the tunnel project has been conducted with dialogue and transparency, with five public hearings held since 2024, as well as specific meetings with Macuco residents, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and other relevant authorities.

“In response to community feedback, the route has been adjusted to reduce impacts and is in accordance with the EIA-RIMA (Environmental Impact Study and Report) approved by Consema (State Environmental Council) in August.”

Regarding the compensation fund, SPI clarified that the expropriation account aims “to ensure legal certainty and financial predictability, guaranteeing that compensation and resettlement are carried out promptly and in line with market values established through a real estate survey conducted in the region. Expropriations are treated as part of the project's socio-environmental impacts and will follow technical criteria established by law.”

The State also reported that the process complies with legal standards and international best practices in environmental management, with appropriate communication to affected families and business owners at the proper time, through official channels and with the support of the future concessionaire. “At the same time, the current administration is also working to expand the supply of housing solutions in the region.”

Transparency The State Government reported that the Santos-Guarujá immersed tunnel project has been conducted with dialogue and transparency, including five public hearings held since 2024 and dedicated meetings with Macuco residents in Santos, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and other competent authorities.