---
title: "Matasnillo sanitation works press ahead beside Metro Line 1 in Fernández de Córdoba"
date: 2026-04-11
modified: 2026-04-12
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/matasnillo-project-metro-line-1/
categories:
  - "Economy"
  - "Environment"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Fernández de Córdoba"
  - "Matasnillo River"
  - "microtunneling"
  - "Panama City"
  - "Panama Metro"
  - "saneamiento"
---

# Matasnillo sanitation works press ahead beside Metro Line 1 in Fernández de Córdoba

## What Happened

Construction on the main collector for the Matasnillo River is advancing several meters underground in Fernández de Córdoba, in a zone that runs close to Line 1 of the Panama Metro. The work is taking place near the Fernández de Córdoba station, one of the metro’s underground stops, and has required tight technical controls to protect the existing rail infrastructure.

To begin interventions in this area, the Metro of Panama had to issue a formal non-objection because of the work’s proximity to the railway easement. Safety measures keep a controlled separation between the project and the tunnel, while the metro system is being monitored around the clock to detect any deviation or risk in real time.

A key phase of installation has already been completed near the station, and another stretch remains pending close to the Súper 99 in Fernández de Córdoba. That remaining portion is scheduled to begin between May and June as part of the project’s next stage.

## How the Works Are Being Carried Out

The project includes the crossing of pipes above the metro tunnel, a maneuver that demands precise engineering and constant supervision. The sanitation program says the works are being carried out continuously, 24 hours a day, and require at least three active shafts at the same time to install the underground pipes.

Other metro-related work fronts are also active near El Ingenio and 12 de Octubre, where shaft tunneling is under way. In several of these areas, smaller-diameter shafts are being used to reduce the impact on traffic while excavation, pipe installation and internal structural work continue below ground.

Once the underground installation is completed, crews move on to fitting internal structures, placing covers and restoring pavement so streets can reopen. In some areas, interconnections with existing systems are still under way, including in Pueblo Nuevo, which has delayed the closing of certain shafts until those links are finished.

## Project Progress and Next Milestones

The Matasnillo sanitation project has reached 52% overall progress and includes 37 shafts, of which 23 remain active. Several shafts have already completed the microtunneling phase and are close to 96% completion as they are converted into inspection chambers for operation and maintenance.

One of the most important points is shaft 1A at Colegio José Ramón Cantera, which stands 16 meters deep and will serve as the entry point for the tunnel boring machine. The broader system covers about 8 kilometers, including 6 kilometers of main collector, with pipes reaching up to 1.5 meters in diameter.

The first shaft closures in the Miraflores area are expected during the next four-month period, with relief for traffic also anticipated near Los Libertadores and Calle 80B Oeste, close to the church of San Antonio de Padua. In other sectors, closures may last longer where additional interconnections are still needed.

The project carries a $71 million investment, is being built by Consorcio BRD Matasnillo and supervised by Consorcio Nippon Koei-LAC. Completion is scheduled for December 2026, and the work is intended to stop wastewater discharges into the Matasnillo River and improve environmental conditions in Panama City.