Thursday, August 24, 2006

The Most Expensive Tunnel In the Canaries

The most expensive tunnel in the Canary Islands is due to be opened to traffic in April 2007. Difficulties with the excavations of the tunnel at El Guincho, Garachico, have elevated the investment to more than 18 million euros.

Work has taken more than four and a half years on the scarcely 650 meter long tunnel, the cost of which, at the moment, runs to 28,000 euros per meter, but the costs are not purely economic. Efforts, misfortunes and technical difficulties have also taken their toll. Inconsistencies in the terrain; volcanic ash, were at the root of the problems that the project has suffered since the beginning. During the works, there have been five collapses with their resultant dangers for homes in the vicinity, residents and the construction workers themselves.

After initially having little success, an exceptional system was adopted, which consisted in injecting concrete both from the interior and the exterior of the tunnel, which have slowly consolidated the construction.

Work on the El Guincho tunnel began in August 2002 and forms a part of the improvements to the TF-142 road between Icod de los Vinos and Garachico. The original budget was 15.7 million and work was expected to take 24 months.

En abril de 2007 se abrirá al tráfico el túnel más caro construido en Canarias