Conceptual proposal for recommendations for the standardization of the geometric design of road tunnels in Chile

Authors

  • Claudio López Dirección Nacional de Vialidad, Santiago, Chile.
  • Diego Alegría Independiente, Concepción, Chile

Keywords:

Assembly, Structural steel, TEM and MTC walls

Abstract

The growing demand for underground road space, together with changes in the standard dimensions and speeds of motor vehicles, highlights the need for a network of road tunnels with a safe and comfortable road geometry for all types of motor vehicles. Currently in Chile, the Highway Manual provides general guidelines for the geometric design of tunnels, but the specific minimum parameters are not standardized, which can lead to unsafe designs, as in the case of the Jardín Botánico Tunnel in Chile, which has a curve/counter-curve configuration at the entrance and inside the tubes, resulting in a high accident rate. In view of the above, it is essential to propose a minimum standard for the geometric design of tunnels that ensures adequate transverse stability for all types of vehicles. This standard should allow for a comfortable cross-sectional profile that allows for the smooth flow of traffic, including B-trains, and adequate visibility. This document provides fundamental recommendations for updating the Highway Manual on specific aspects of road geometric design in tunnels. To this end, research has been conducted on several ad hoc foreign documents from the European Union, PIARC, and other leading countries in this field. These recommendations are summarized in the report ‘Recommendations for the Geometric Design of Road Tunnels in Chile’, developed by the authors, and are directly related to section 3.802 of the Highway Manual.

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Published

2025-12-30

How to Cite

López, C., & Alegría, D. (2025). Conceptual proposal for recommendations for the standardization of the geometric design of road tunnels in Chile. Journal of Construction and Civil Engineering, 13(3), 9. Retrieved from https://rioc.ufro.cl/index.php/rioc/article/view/3402

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2025): RIOC

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Claudio López, Diego Alegría

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