CHILE: Construction started on Santiago metro Line 9 at the site of the future depot at La Pintana on August 19, with a ceremony attended by President Gabriel Boric.
The 27 km Line 9 will be the eighth metro line of the city, serving 19 stations; it is being delivered in three stages. Line 9 will ultimately link Puente Cal y Canto in the centre, running southwards and then turning east to reach Plaza de Puente Alto on Line 4.
The middle section is to be built first, linking 10 stations over 14 km, between Bío Bío on Line 6 and Plaza de La Pintana.
Demolition and site clearance works are gradually due to get underway, allowing main civil works to start by the end of the year. Opening of the first section is planned for 2030.
The 4 km Section 2 would take the line to Puente Cal y Canto in the city centre. Tendering for this lot is currently under way with preliminary works expected to start by the end of the year. Opening is scheduled for 2032.
Section 3 is to add 9 km at the southern end. Detailed studies and the obtaining of environmental permits are currently underway, with opening expected for 2033.
End-to-end journey time is to be 35 min, 28% faster than an equivalent journey by buses.
‘Public transportation is not just a way to get around, it’s a tool for living better. And projects like the future metro Line 9 are proof of this: because when it’s operational, it will transform the daily lives of almost 2 million people’, said Juan Carlos Muñoz, Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications.
‘It will mean less travel time, more family time, greater safety, and less stress. Ultimately, a real improvement in quality of life. This new line will not only connect stations: it also repairs a debt owed to communities that have been left behind for decades. Line 9 is an act of justice for those who have been waiting years for decent access to transportation. Soon, thousands of residents from historically disadvantaged areas will be able to ride the metro in their own community, with all the benefits that this entails’, he added.
