Completion of the 8.6 kilometer long La Línea tunnel after 12 long years and many governments, tunnels suddenly become a subject of discussion in Colombian media. Not a day passes without the mention of the La Línea tunnel and in general tunnels. How useful they are, how shorter and safer will the travel after it becomes operational etc.

La Línea also highlights the number one concern for the tunnels. The safety issues Colombian publication Dinero asks the question 'We became the country of tunnels, are we building them well?'.

According to Dinero, in the past 20 years, various Colombian governments have invested in 110 tunnels all across the country. A lot of money for the many challenging projects.

Talking to Dinero, a Vinci Coating manager says that most of the tunneling projects carried out and under construction in Colombia do not meet international standards. Those tunnels are poorly lit, there are water leakages and not build with the fire avoidance in mind with the materials used. On top of it, especially the one tube tunnels with one lane in each direction are collisions in waiting. This all means a a higher risk of accidents, and higher maintenance costs.

Interestingly, Dinero mentions the tunnel construction and operation manual that Invías (National Institute of Roads) had got prepared by the field experts in 2014. They go on saying that because the older generation of tunnelers (the ones who learned the profession on the job as opposed to in schools) did not want it, it has never become an official guideline in the country.
 

I highly recommend that you read his article.

https://www.dinero.com/pais/articulo/construccion-de-tuneles/294715