La Línea tunnel works start without full financing

Construction started this week on Colombia's 8.6km La Línea tunnel, which is designed to help connect the country's central and western zones, the presidency said. Funds are not in place for the entire project, which falls under the Bogotá-Buenaventura trunk road contract. "Don't worry about [project] money," Colombian President Álvaro Uribe said at the construction ceremony. "The important thing is to do the works well and as quickly as possible, because credit must come from somewhere." The President said there are already international offers on the table to provide money, but it will be easier to secure long-term financing once the project has started. Phase-one cost estimates total 84.0bn pesos (US$36mn) and include building a pilot tunnel or conducting geological exploration, plus finalizing and tweaking the project design over 36 months. National highway institute Invías is in charge of the project, while works will be carried out by the La Línea consortium, made up of Consultoría Colombiana, Gómez Cajiao and Estudios Técnicos. The consortium won the project contract on June 8. La Línea will connect Calarcá in Quindío department with Cajamarca in Tolima department, crossing the central mountain range. Once finished, the work is expected to reduce operational costs, travel times, accidents and increase commercial traffic.