Cristo Redentor Tunnel

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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Paso Libertadores. (Discuss)

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Uspallata Pass. (Discuss)

The Cristo Redentor Tunnel (officially Paso Cristo Redentor, Spanish for "Christ the Redeemer Pass") is a tunnel that crosses the Andes, between Argentina and Chile, near the city of Mendoza.

Opened in 1980, the tunnel is 3,080 meters long, at a height of 3,175 meters, and serves as probably the most important land crossing between Chile and Argentina. The path can be closed during winters, because of heavy snows that block both ends and throws loosened rocks to the road, delaying thousands of trucks mostly for hours but often for several days.

Its name comes from the 4 ton Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (Cristo Redentor de los Andes) statue placed in 1904 near the entrance of the Argentine side at a height of 4,000 meters, commemorating the crossing of the Andes in 1817 by a division of the Ejército de los Andes under the command of Las Heras.

[edit] Alternative projected tunnels

In order to ease the dependence on this only crossing in the area, two lower tunnels have been projected. One of them is the Túnel Juan Pablo II ("John Paul II Tunnel"), that would be constructed at an altitude of between 2,250 and 2,720 meters, 20,000 meters long, to join the towns of Horcones (Argentina) and Juncal (Chile).

The other tunnel, named Paso Las Leñas ("Las Leñas Pass"), with 2,000 meters of height and 13,000 meters of length, seems to be a better option. The projected tunnel's lower altitude and shorter longitude translate to lower costs.