Colombian leader revives century-old plan to join Atlantic and Pacific

In Chocó, still recovering from the August 10 earthquake, President Abelardo de la Espriella unveiled a renewed effort to create a transport corridor that would join Colombia’s Atlantic and Pacific shores, linking the Urabá region of Antioquia with a deep-water port on the Pacific coast. The project, which could take the form of either a canal or a railway, traces its origins to studies begun in 1964 and was recently revived by former President Gustavo Petro, who shared a sketch of a proposed route on X. Despite their long-standing political feud, Petro endorsed the plan, emphasizing the need for a modern railway complemented by public fiber-optic infrastructure and megadata centers.

The proposal has been handed to the Miracle Fund, a vehicle intended for post-earthquake reconstruction, but the fund has only spoken of “possibilities” without detailing financing or timelines. Meanwhile, residents of Chocó continue to face urgent issues such as rental subsidies, home repairs, and support for damaged businesses, highlighting the gap between the ambitious megaproject and immediate recovery priorities.