Road tunnels as option for integration

(La Paz, April 13, 2011).- To expand and update the knowledge of the technical staff of Bolivian public bodies and transport companies on ​​tunnel design, construction and operation, CAF - Latin American bank development - organized the "International Workshop on road tunnels” with the participation of six experts from Chile, Colombia, Peru and Spain.

"For CAF our aim is to build local capacities in all areas of highway infrastructure construction, accompanying each project not only with financial resources but also with knowledge generation, implementation of new practices, exchange of international experiences and introduction of appropriate technology, aiming above all for technical, economic and environmental sustainability," Emilio Uquillas, CAF director representative in Bolivia, said at the opening of the workshop.

CAF is the international financial organization which has supplied most support for road infrastructure in Bolivia. In the last 10 years, the development bank has financed construction of over 3,500 kilometers of roads. The organization is currently supporting the building of the 1,220-meter Falda de la Queñua tunnel on the Potosí-Tarija highway, and the 1,260-meter Incahuasi tunnel on the Jaime Mendoza Diagonal, which connects Chuquisaca department with the north of Potosí and the Bolivian Chaco.

The event was attended by the Minister of Public Works and Housing Services, Walter Delgadillo, who said the initiative was important because it updated the knowledge of Bolivian road engineers. "The country is developing a transformation project in which infrastructure plays a key role so there is a substantial use of resources in this area. To accompany these investments we require specialized technicians who have been exposed to world developments in construction materials," the minister added, listing the large number of tunnels in existence or required by Bolivia’s Basic Road Network.

Ambitious solutions to improve connectivity

In the workshop, experts presented current and state-of-the-art concepts and techniques in tunnel design and construction, result of recent experiences in their countries. They said that the difficult geographical environments, typical of the countries of Latin America, often create serious problems of connectivity, whose solution requires the building of tunnels as part of major highway projects.

They recommended definitive and ambitious solutions to improve operating conditions, reducing the risks associated with construction and upgrading of roads in mountainous terrain.

The presentations were given by Javier Aparicio and Enrique Aravena (Chile), Rafael Herrera Farfán (Colombia), Benjamin Celada and Fernando Portugués (Spain), and Winston Lewis (Peru).

Other participants included officials and representatives from the Bolivian Highway Administration (ABC), Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing, Vice Ministry of Transport, Telecommunications, the Transport Inspection and Social Control Authority (ATT), Bolivian Society of Engineers, Bolivian chambers and departments of Construction, engineering and consulting companies and others involved in the sector.

In the two-day event, the topics covered were:

• Design criteria for safety facilities in road tunnels
• Land characterization
• Environmental component in tunnels
• Sizing support and implementation in tunnels
• Experiences in building road tunnels in Chile and Peru
• Rockbursting impact of construction of underground projects
• Criteria for achieving energy efficiency in road tunnels

From Bolivia the speakers moved on to Lima, Peru, where CAF will hold the same workshop.