Medellín Unveils Details of Colombia's First Underground Metro Station for Metro 80 Project

Medellín's ambitious Metro 80 project is forging ahead, with authorities unveiling details of a unique underground station set to be the first of its kind in Colombia. Located in the San Germán sector, this subterranean station is a key component of the mega-obra designed to revolutionize mobility in western Medellín and significantly cut down on environmental impact.

The San Germán station will feature an approximately 500-meter-long underground section, encompassing both the rail lines and the passenger building. This strategic underground design aims to eliminate traffic interference at the existing signalized intersection of 80th Avenue and 65th Street. The civil works for this phase are expected to create around 340 direct jobs and are scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2028.

The Metro 80 line itself is the most extensive rail corridor developed in Medellín since the original metro system's inauguration. Spanning 13.25 kilometers, it promises an average travel time of 32 minutes and will operate with a fleet of 22 state-of-the-art trains. This project is set to directly benefit one million residents, impacting the urban landscape of the Robledo and Laureles-Estadio comunas, as well as the local university community.

Overall project execution has surpassed 52%, with significant progress made in land acquisition. The administration invested an additional $55 billion pesos in fair compensation for property owners, resolving delays and securing 1,205 of the 1,306 required properties. The project is projected to prevent the emission of over 131,000 tons of CO2 annually.