President Duque inaugurates the La Línea tunnel in Colombia

President Iván Duque (in the center), together with Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez and other officials, during the inauguration of the La Línea tunnel.

(Credit: Presidency Colombia)

(CNN Spanish) ––

The president of Colombia, Iván Duque, inaugurated this Friday the La Línea tunnel, which connects the municipalities of Calarcá and Cajamarca in the center-west of the country.

According to an official statement, it had an investment of almost 270 million dollars.

The La Línea tunnel is 8.65 kilometers long and was built at 2,400 meters above sea level, in the road corridor that connects Buenaventura with Bogotá.

During the construction phase of the project, more than 6,000 workers and more than 800 engineering professionals participated.

According to the statement, it was the engineer Luciano Battle who conceived the idea of ​​building this tunnel in 1902, after a journey through the La Vieja river.

In his report, he stated that it was possible to connect the west and the center of the country by crossing the Cordillera Central.

Since then there have been several unsuccessful attempts to start the works, until, in 2004, the decision was made to begin construction in phases.

«This is the most important infrastructure work that has been done in the history of our country.

It is a country project, but, in addition, it is a life project for all of you, "said Duque when participating in the inauguration, from the side of the work in the department of Quindío.

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