The Tunnel Boring Machine has Already Crossed the Panama Canal. Mulino Promises to Complete Line 3 During his Term

The tunnel boring machine for Line 3 of the Panama Metro has already crossed the Panama Canal’s navigation channel and is heading toward Balboa, Metro Director César Pinzón announced yesterday.  “A week ago, we reached a depth of 65 meters below sea level to cross the Canal’s navigation channel. This is the first time in history that such an event, a milestone, has occurred. We have successfully crossed,” Pinzón explained during President José Raúl Mulino’s weekly press conference.  The Metro director noted that the tunnel boring machine is currently at the port and the Balboa shipyard.  He added that they expect to reach Balboa in early 2026 for maintenance, with the goal of proceeding to Albrook, where it will complete its journey. The tunnel is 4.5 kilometers long and 13.5 meters in diameter. 

For his part, President José Raúl Mulino said it’s clear that the people most affected by the changes are Panamanians, and he pledged to complete the project during his term, that is, by 2029.  “It’s been a true feat. Our goal is to complete this line during my term to improve the quality of life for hundreds of citizens who travel daily between the West and the capital,” he said.  He added: “This progress is proof that Panamanians can achieve great things.”  Another advance of this project is that the 26 monorails, each with six cars, are now in the country, ready to be integrated into the system.  Line 3 will depart from Albrook Station and run through Arraiján, Nuevo Chorrillo, and extend to Ciudad del Futuro. Its first phase will have a 25-kilometer route, along which 11 stations will be distributed.  Recently, the Comptroller’s Office approved funding for Line 3 to ensure the continuity of one of the most important infrastructure projects for the country’s mobility and economic development.

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