The long-anticipated Santos-Guarujá Tunnel, currently under planning, is set to impose tolls significantly higher than those of the historic Ponte Rio-Niterói. According to official documents, the standard toll for traversing the 1.5-kilometer stretch of the tunnel will stand at R$ 6.15 for cars, which is nearly nine times more than what drivers currently pay at the Ponte Rio-Niterói, where the base rate is R$ 6.20 but spans 13.3 kilometers.
The Santos-Guarujá Tunnel, priced at R$ 4.1 per kilometer, is part of Brazil's Novo PAC infrastructure program, which aims to facilitate economic growth through various public investment projects. With the tunnel projected to cost around R$ 6 billion, this expense is divided among the São Paulo government, the federal union, and private investors.
Officials expect the tolls for the tunnel to rise over time, as they will be adjusted for inflation from the base figures set with the launch of the concession notice. Besides cars, motorbikes will incur fees of R$ 3.07, and buses and trucks will pay R$ 18.35 per trip. Notably, the tolls will be charged both ways, meaning drivers will pay upon entering and exiting the tunnel.
The tolling system will feature innovative technology lacking traditional toll booths. Instead, it will utilize a free-flow electronic system allowing vehicles to pass without stopping, but will require users without registration to settle their accounts within 30 days. Measures are also planned to enforce compliance, particularly considering the recent implementation of the same system led to nearly 12,000 penalties for non-compliance on another highway.
Following the tunnel’s completion, which is expected by 2028, traffic congestion and delays caused by ferry services are predicted to diminish significantly. Currently, more than 21,000 vehicles use ferries and small boats to cross the Guarujá channel daily, alongside 7,700 cyclists and 7,600 pedestrians. The new tunnel will cut the crossing time to mere minutes, greatly improving logistical movements associated with the Port of Santos.
The construction of this underwater tunnel, which encompasses 870 meters below the waterline, will consist of three traffic lanes, one dedicated exclusively to the Veículo Leve sobre Trilhos (Light Rail Vehicle) and pedestrian crossings. Designed to streamline transportation between Santos and Guarujá, the tunnel is regarded as the foremost and most ambitious project within the federal government’s infrastructure strategy.
The project is supported by key figures including President Luiz Lula and São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, indicating both local and national backing for what is touted to be one of the country's most significant infrastructure endeavors. Since the tunnel was included as part of the Novo PAC initiative, anticipation for its initiation has mounted accordingly.
Interest from various construction firms reflects the project’s viability, with companies such as Acciona, China Communications Construction Company, and Portuguese group Mota Engil expressing intentions to participate in the bidding process. This influx of potential bidders emphasizes the prospect of the tunnel becoming not only pivotal for transport efficacy but also as a benchmark project developing international expertise within Brazil's construction sector.
With the current passage between Santos and Guarujá primarily reliant on the 43-kilometer highway Cônego Domenico Rangoni and ferry services, the authorities expect the tunnel to deliver enhanced benefits, particularly concerning transport efficiency at the Port of Santos. The port, renowned for its extensive operations, ideally requires improved connections to handle its significant cargo volumes.
The forthcoming toll dynamics appear set to match the rising costs of significant infrastructure as Brazil aims to modernize its transport systems under federal initiatives. The economic impacts brought forth by the Santos-Guarujá Tunnel align with Brazil's broader goals of infrastructure expansion and road safety improvements.
Anticipation now builds as citizens await the inaugural groundbreaking of this transformative structure, expected to minimize congestion and herald the next step toward modernizing transportation and logistics frameworks across Brazil.