The Government of São Paulo, through the Secretariat for Partnerships and Investments (SPI), has confirmed the company Mota-Engil Latam Portugal S.A. as the definitive winner of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the Santos–Guarujá Immersed Tunnel. The process can be followed on the project’s new official website — www.tunelsantosguaruja.sp.gov.br — which gathers all information on the project, its execution schedule, and progress updates, reinforcing the state government’s commitment to transparency and public access to official initiatives.
Cetesb, São Paulo’s environmental agency, has already issued the preliminary environmental license, confirming the project’s feasibility and authorizing the partnership to move forward, providing legal certainty and predictability for the timeline. The analysis considered potential impacts on mangroves, wildlife, vegetation, noise levels, and expropriations, establishing environmental requirements that must be met during the installation licensing phase.
“The Santos–Guarujá Tunnel is a landmark infrastructure project for the Baixada Santista region and the state as a whole. The conclusion of the qualification phase and the progress of contractual stages reinforce the São Paulo government’s commitment to delivering projects that promote development, mobility, and quality of life for the population,” said Rafael Benini, Secretary for Partnerships and Investments.
With a total investment of R$ 6.8 billion — including R$ 5.1 billion in public funding, equally divided between the Government of São Paulo and the Federal Government — the project foresees the construction of an 870-meter tunnel under the port channel, with three lanes in each direction, a pedestrian and bicycle crossing, and a technical services gallery. The 30-year contract also covers the operation and maintenance phases of the infrastructure.
Mota-Engil won the auction held at B3, São Paulo’s Stock Exchange, in September, with a 0.5% discount on the maximum annual public payment of R$ 438.3 million. With the definitive qualification completed, the process now advances to the approval and awarding stages, which precede the official signing of the contract. After this step, the concessionaire will have up to 60 days to formalize the agreement, and the public contributions — R$ 2.7 billion from the Government of São Paulo and R$ 2.7 billion from the Federal Government — must be made within 60 days after signing.
The project will then move to the stage of defining the site for the construction dock where the concrete modules will be assembled, expected to be located in either Santos or Guarujá by 2026. Module production is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the immersed structure assembly expected by 2030, alongside the start of access works in both municipalities. The complete delivery and start of tunnel operations are scheduled for 2031.
Creating around 9,000 direct and indirect jobs, the tunnel will become the first permanent land connection between Santos and Guarujá, reducing crossing time to as little as five minutes. The project will directly benefit over two million people and boost the logistical and urban development of the entire Baixada Santista region.