The Coatzacoalcos underwater tunnel is an impressive work located in the southeast of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. With a total length of 1.14 kilometers, of which 696 meters are submerged, this tunnel is the first of its kind in Latin America.
It was built using the “Cut and Cover” technique and the “Immersed-tunnel Method”, which allows prefabricated reinforced concrete sections, floating them and placing them on the bottom of the seabed without the need for special drilling machinery.
The tunnel has four lanes, two in each direction, and connects the mouth of the Coatzacoalcos River in the Gulf of Mexico with the town of Villa Allende ². Its depth varies from 12 meters at the starting point to 15 meters at the intermediate point.
Highlights:
- Total length: 1.14 kilometres
- Submerged length: 696 metres
- Depth: up to 15 metres
- Permitted speed: 50-60 km/h
- Daily capacity: over 26,000 vehicles
This tunnel has significantly improved connectivity and traffic in the region, reducing travel time from 30 minutes to just 3 minutes ³. It also features advanced security systems, such as fire detection and video surveillance.
Source: OEM
