Zonda Road Tunnel

The Zonda Tunnel project is located in the Sierra Chica de Zonda, in the eastern range of the Precordillera de los Andes, about 20 km from the city of San Juan, capital of the province of the same name. The purpose of the project is to create a direct road link between the valleys of Tulum and Zonda, by means of a subway road structure that will avoid traffic in the section known as Quebrada de Zonda. This linkage is materialized through a straight tunnel that will cross the Sierra de Marquesado with a length of 1'000 meters and two traffic lanes, which will be interconnected with the road network through two new road sections of approximately 5 km each. Additionally, the design has foreseen the passage of the Gran Tulum aqueduct, so the design considers its implementation and hydraulic feasibility. The tunnel is of the horseshoe type with a 100 m² section.

Lombardi has developed the basic pre-project engineering of the tunnel; executing mainly the following activities:

• Field activities, including: geological survey along the tunnel axis and portals; accompanying the execution of borings in the portals; execution of test pits; collection of soil and rock samples for laboratory tests required for the geotechnical characterization of the materials; and complementary geophysical tests.

• Geological characterization supported by satellite images
• Hydrogeological characterization of the study area.
• Detailed geological evaluation of the Zonda and Rivadavia portals.
• Design of civil works and electromechanical installations (energy, lighting, ventilation, signaling, fire protection system).
• Preparation of computation, budget, work schedule and investment curve.
• Preparation of the Technical Bidding Documents (DTL).

At present, Lombardi is in charge of the Technical Inspection of the tunnel and access roads for the Provincial Roads Department