Lima, June 13 (Andina-RHC) -- Peru plans to allocate $2 billion USD for the construction of the Trans-Andean tunnel in order to eventually implement the country’s Central Railroad, the Transport and Communication Ministry (MTC) said.

“The preliminary infrastructure studies are in their final phase and they are expected to be concluded in the coming months,” top MTC official Carlos Paredes said.

He said studies reveal that an estimated investment of nearly US$ 2 billion is required to undertake this large-scale infrastructure project. "This fund is projected to be invested in a tunnel covering a length of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) to pass through Peru’s Andes mountain chain," he said.

He continued, “This massive project is set to become the country’s longest tunnel which will help traders to avoid going through the Ticlio pass, located at 4,758 meters (15,610 ft) above sea level in the Andean side of the Lima region".

With regard to the government's asphalt program, Paredes said the Ollanta Humala administration has built and rehabilitated 3,500 kilometers (2174.8 miles) of roads across the country since taking office in July 2011.