The presidents of Chile and Argentina are reported to be interested in the proposed construction of a 14-mile tunnel through the Andes Mountains, to speed up trade between the two South American nations.
At an estimated cost of US$2.3bn, local press claim the tunnel would be located at an altitude of 2,400 metres and serve both train and truck transport.
By replacing an older, narrow tunnel, often blocked by snow, the Argentinean-Brazilian consortium behind the plan claims the link could facilitate trade between Chile and Argentina.
The move has the potential to benefit the trade of fresh produce – just one of the commodities inter-traded between the two nations.
Both Chile and Argentina already use existing links across the Andes Mountains, which divide the two countries, to supply fresh fruits and vegetables to local markets, as well as to gain access to ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines for export overseas.
