Construction Begins on £1.8bn Underwater Tunnel Under Panama Canal
The £1.8bn project to build the first-ever underwater tunnel under the Panama Canal has officially begun.
The tunnel is part of Panama’s Metro Line 3 monorail project, designed to ease traffic congestion in the metropolitan area.
Panama’s President praised the workforce operating the tunnel boring machine, which will dig 65 meters below the canal’s seabed over the next 22 months
Once complete, the tunnel will connect the east and west parts of the nation and serve as a key infrastructure milestone for the country.
With construction already 63% complete, the monorail service will link Albrook to the Ciudad del Futuro sector, serving 20,000 people during peak hours
The underwater tunnel is expected to be completed in the 2nd quarter of 2026, creating 5,000 jobs in the process.
This engineering marvel will enable trains to pass under one of the world’s most famous canals, setting a precedent for future transit systems
With its completion, the underwater tunnel beneath the Panama Canal will redefine Panama’s transit infrastructure and contribute to the nation’s growth.