Fuego

Today, if a person wants to cross from Chile or Argentina to the island of Tierra del Fuego, they depend on ferries and barges. Normally, about 600 vehicles and around 2,000 people They cross the island every day. The extreme southern region of Patagonia is also a complicated area in meteorological terms, which leads to the suspension of maritime transport services every now and then. Hence, it makes all the sense in the world that they are considering building an underwater tunnel that connects both regions. The idea is to build an underpass of about 3.7 kilometers in the First Angostura, thus replacing ferry transportation. The project has existed on paper for a long timebut now it has just gained some political momentum. What exactly is proposed. The project would consist of an underwater road tunnel that connects Punta Delgada, in the continental zone, with Bahía Azul, on the Big Island of Tierra del Fuego. This section, known as First Angostura, is the point where the Strait of Magellan narrows to the maximum, making it the most technically reasonable place to attempt a work of these characteristics. Why is it resurfacing now? The project has been included since June 2025 in the Extreme Zones Development Plan 2025–2035 of the Magallanes Region. The governor of Magallanes, Jorge Flies, has been the main person responsible for restore some visibility to the initiative in recent weeks, according to some media reports. What the technicians say. Francisco Hernández, academic at the University of the Andes, counted to the Uruguayan edition of El País that the work is technically possible, but warns that it should not be seen “as a simple work.” The media also points out more difficulties than the length of the route, including the detailed study of the geology of the seabed, the water pressure, the currents or the seismic behavior of an area located very close to the mountain range. Depending on the results of these analyses, the project could be executed with a TBM-type tunnel boring machine or using conventional rock excavation techniques. According to account According to La Nación, Norwegian engineers have already reviewed the proposal in a preliminary phase and concluded that the conditions could be favorable. cHow much does it cost and who pays. The estimates oscillate between 500 and 1.5 billion dollars. As it is a binational project, Chile and Argentina would have to agree on the distribution of the investment, the management model and long-term maintenance guarantees. The media also points out that viability does not depend only on engineering, but on there being a firm agreement between both countries on who pays, under what conditions and with what operating scheme. What point is it really at? For the moment, the tunnel is nothing more than a proposal included in Chile’s planning. There is no official confirmation of the start of works, no definitive agreement between the two countries, nor guaranteed financing. The next step would be to complete the geotechnical and geophysical studies that allow the design, costs and security, evacuation and emergency systems to be refined. Until then, we will have to wait to find out if the project finally comes to fruition. Cover image | Vincent Etter and Ricardo Gomez Angel In Xataka | With 3,500 tons and 15 meters in diameter, China already has the largest tunnel boring machine in the world for high-speed trains