Marmaray crossing mooted at $650 million for 13.3 km including 1.8 km immersed tube joining Yenikapi with Sogutlucesme. Four year construction period. August 1998.   First US$117 million tranche of Japanese funding for the cross-Bosphorus rail link has been released to finance consultants to oversee design and tendering of the project and preliminary construction work. Japan's Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) has already agreed to provide US$866 million for the US$1.6 billion project. The 13.3 km-long Bosphorus crossing will be combined with upgrading of the existing TCDD suburban lines to create a 76.3 km-long high-capacity railway across the Istanbul conurbation from Gebze to Halkali. The 1.8 km-long earthquake-proof immersed tube crossing will be assembled from 18 sections. It will be accessed by bored approaches from Yenikapi on the European side and Sogutlucesme on the Anatolian side. There will be intermediate stations at Sirkeci and Uskudar where the tunnel passes under the old city. Construction is expected to take around four years. December 1999.   Turkey's General Directorate of Railway, Port & Airport Construction has shortlisted three consortia for consultancy and engineering services. They are Pacific Consultancy of Japan with Parsons Brinckerhoff and Yuksel Project; Nippon Koei, Mott MacDonald, Louis Berger, Su Yapi Muhendislik, Nippon Civic and Sverdrup; and Prokon Muhendislik, Chiyoda, Akun, DE-Consult, Bung, TEC and Setec. The consultancy contract will be awarded with the aim of starting work early in 2001. Construction is expected to take around four years. The three consortia are to be vetted by Japan's Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) before the final tenders are issued. Contact through www.mottmac.com April 2000.   Design contract for upgrade of 63 km of line with new 13.3 km-long marine link across Bosphorus from Gebze to Haliki and three underground stations awarded to PCI, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Yuksel. Tunnel will be bored from both sides, with 1.8 km-long immersed tube in central section at 58 m below sea level. Project value $1.2 billion, duration four years. Visit www.pbworld.com 44/01.   $2.5 billion engineering and consultancy agreement signed for the Marmaray project between the ministry of transport and the Avrasya consortium. The project involves the construction of a 13.3 km crossing over the Bosphorus and the upgrade of 63 km of suburban railway. $800 million to be spent for a 1.8 km earthquake-proof immersed tube, taking four years to build. 02/02.   Invitation to prequalify issued by the General Directorate of Railways, Harbours and Airports (DLH) for design and construction of the Istanbul Strait rail tube tunnel called 'Marmaray' and the Gebze-Halkali surface metro system after approval by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The project includes a 2 km-long two-track immersed tunnel beneath the Bosphorus between the districts of Eminönü on the European side and íœsküdar on the Asian side of Istanbul, two-track approach tunnels on both sides of the immersed tunnel totalling 12 kilometres of combined bored tunnels, cut-and-cover tunnels and open cuts, and four deep underground stations. DLH is expected to collect bids for the tender in April 2003. Contact Mrs F. Simin Pehlivan, Ministry of Transportation, General Directorate of Railways, Harbours and Airports Construction (DLH), fax +90 312 2122874, E-mail simin@ubak.gov.tr. Visit www.ubak.gov.tr/tr/dlh/home/engmarmaray.htm 33/02.   The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has agreed to finance the Bosphorus strait tunnel crossing and 76.3 km-long Gebze-Haydarpasa and Sirkeci-Halkali suburb line paving the way to the tendering phase to be launched by DLH, the general directorate of railways, harbours and airports construction under the ministry of transportation. A 1.8 km immersed tunnel under the Bosphorus strait will be built to link the European and Asian sides and 12 km of connecting tunnels on both sides. The four prequalifiers are: Hazama / Penta Ocean / Yuksel Construction / Guris Construction; Kajima / Nishimatsu / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / Enka / Dogus; Kumagai Gumi / Taisei / Gama / Nurol Construction; and Obayashi / Construction Center / Kiska / Metis. Estimated cost: €2.5 billion. Visit www.ubak.gov.tr/tr/dlh/index.html 05/03.  The four prequalifiers for the 1.8 km Marmaray tunnel across the Bosphorus strait and associated works, including 12 km of approach tunnels on both sides of the strait, are Kajima / Nishimatsu / Mitsubishi / Enka / Dogus; Hazama / Penta Ocean / Yuksel Guris; Taisei / Kumagai Gumi / Gauma / Nurol; and Obayashi / Construction Center / Kiska / Metis. Construction of the $2.5 billion Marmaray tunnel and the upgrading of existing rail links on both sides will begin in 2004 for completion in 2008. The tunnel will start in Yedikule, continue to Yenikapi and Sirkeci underground stations, cross the strait and be connected to another underground station at íœsküdar. After that point, the line will run above ground in Sogutlucesme. In total, the railway, including the tunnel, will be 13.5 km. Tenders for the project will open in October with work expected to begin in mid-2004. 27/03.The Kajima / Nishimatsu / Mitsubishi / Enka / Dogus consortium has withdrawn from the bid for the subsea metro tunnel project to connect the Asian and European sides of Istanbul, also known as Marmaray. The consortium said that the contract conditions were difficult to fulfill. The expiry date for submitting an offer is 3rd October, 2003. Three consortia remain in the race. 38/03.The transport ministry received two preliminary bids from Turkish-Japanese consortiums in a tender to build a rail tunnel under the Bosphorus straits between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. The first consortium is formed by Taisei, Kumagai Gumi and Turkey's Gama and Nurol. The second group includes Obayashi and Turkey's Yapi Merkezi, Metis and Kiska. The $2.5 billion Marmaray project covers a distance of 13.1 km. The bids will be evaluated within two months. The first tunnel phase of the project, to be financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), is expected to cost around $800 million. The second phase, linking the tunnel to an existing rail line between the stations of Halkali and Gebze, is forecast to cost $700 million, while the trains and signalling in the third phase will cost around $1 billion. Officials plan to lay the foundation stone in the first quarter of 2004. 02/04.A USD2 billion contract for the third crossing of the Bosphorus Strait was signed on 6th May by a consortium between Taisei, Kumagai Gumi, Gama and Nurol. Construction was officially launched on 9th May. The project, also known as Marmaray, includes a 13.3 km tunnel crossing and the upgrade of 63 km of suburban line to create a 76.3 km high capacity line between Gebze and Halkali. The Bosphorus Strait will be crossed by a 1.8 km immersed tube tunnel, composed of 18 elements sunk at a depth of approximately 60 m. This tube will be accessed by bored tunnels from Yenikapi on the European side and Sogutlucesme on the Asian side of Istanbul. Stations will be built at Sirkeci and Uskudar. The project is due to finish in 2008. Visit www.taisei.co.jp/english 21/04.CPG Consultants of Singapore has been engaged by Taisei and its JV partners Kumagai, Gama and Nurol to lead the design of the 1,387 m immersed tunnel crossing under the Bosphorus Strait, which is part of the 13,558 m Marmara railway tunnel project to link the Asian and European continents. The USD1 billion project also involves the design and construction of three TBM-driven twin-tube sections (2 x 4,620 m, 2 x 3,343 m and 2 x 2,170 m from east to west), cut-and-cover portions and three underground stations, one on the Asian side (the Usukudar cut-and-cover station) and two on the European side (Yenikapi and Sirkuci, to be built respectively in cut-and-cover and NATM). Deepest station at about 50 m underground. Also Kazlicesme station at grade on the European side. The earthquake-proof immersed tunnel will be one of the deepest of its kind in the world, at 55 m below sea level at its lowest point. It is scheduled to be completed in 2009. The Bosphorus Strait joins the Marmara Sea with the Black Sea and separates Europe and Asia. Visit www.cpgcorp.com.sg and www.marmaray.com 05/05.

Dubai Municipality  has awarded to Parsons Overseas Ltd (USA) the contract for consultancy and supervision of the EUR3.01 billion (AED 12.5 billion) Dubai Strategic Sewerage Tunnel project. The contract includes feasibility studies, preliminary design, tender preparation and support followed by project management of detailed design and construction supervision once the main contractor is appointed. The main construction contract will be tendered within the next 12 months. However, the scope and number of packages will not be clear until after Parsons finishes its early designs.

The project includes construction of two deep wastewater tunnels and associated link sewers. The total combined length of the tunnels will be 75 km, reaching depths of up to 90 m and supported by 135 km of link sewers and key pumping stations. Visit https://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395295489854.html and https://www.parsons.com. 20/16.

Tenders will be invited in the next two months for the Dubai mass transit project. The project will comprise of a 72 km track, from the American University in Jebel Ali to the edge of the emirate at Salahuddin Road, and from the Dubai Festival City to the vicinity of central Dubai. The project involves construction of two separate lines, the Green Line and the Red Line. The entire project is expected to cost around Dh8 billion. About 30% would be underground and 70% on elevated tracks. The underground section will run in the city centre. There would be a total of 55 stations across Dubai, each one to 3 km distant. The trains would be automated and driverless. The project will be complete and operational by 2010. Read E-News Weekly 50/2003. 06/04.French consultancy Systra will carry out the initial plans for the Dubai driverless metro system. Tenders for construction of the proposed USD3.92 billion project will be invited in May or June. Construction to start by October 2005. The system will comprise two lines, a 50 km Red Line with 35 stations (first phase) and a 19.2 km Green Line serving 22 stations (second phase). The Red Line is estimated at USD2.33 billion. Completion expected by 2009 for first phase and 2012 for second phase. The system will include 18 km of tunnels. Read E-News Weekly 50/2003. Visit www.systra.com 13/04.The Dubai municipality invites companies to prequalify, deadline 1st June, 2004 for the final design and construction of the Dubai light rail project, which consists of two lines of around 70 km, out of which 30% is underground. The remaining portions are elevated. The municipality hopes to award a single turnkey contract. Tender documents should be released in early August. Visit http://vgn.dm.gov.ae/DMEGOV/dm-mp-train-project or contact wmmustafa@dm.gov.ae for technical enquiries and ssqaiwani@dm.gov.ae for contractual enquiries. Subscribe to E-News Weekly 50/2003. 20/04.The Dubai municipality in the United Arab Emirates has extended the final bid submission deadline for its AED12.5 billion light rail transit (LRT) project by one month, from 31st January to 28th February, 2005. After evaluation, the final contract is expected to be awarded in May 2005. The five consortia selected to bid for the project are: Bilfinger Berger, Taisei, Besix and Alstom; Vinci, Hochtief, CCIC of the UAE and Ansaldo; Obayashi, Yapi Merkesi (Turkey) and Mitsubishi; consortium Metro One, which includes Odebrecht, Arab-tec of the UAE, Guris (Turkey), Ghella of Italy, PARsons and Bombardier; and finally the Bin Laden Group of Saudi Arabia, Dywidag and Siemens. All the bidders are negotiating with leading local and international banks to finance the bids. The Dubai municipality will provide only 10% of the project value to the winning consortium. The first round of bids, which involved rail systems and signalling, were submitted on 1st November, 2004.Phase I of the 72 km project includes the entire Green Line from Dubai Airport Free Zone to Dubai Healthcare City, covering the major locations in downtown Dubai, as well as part of the Red Line from Rashidiya to Dubai Marina. Phase I covers 43 km of which about 3.5 km will be underground. Phase II runs from the American University (near Dubai Marina) to Jebel Ali port, covering 29 km. 53/04-01/05.A Dh6.285 billion bid from the Mitsubishi-led Dubai Rapid Link consortium, including Obayashi and Yapi Merkesi, is the lowest offer made for the first phase of the Dubai light rail project. The Metro One consortium led by Bombardier, involving also Odebrecht, Arab-tec of the UAE, Guris, Ghella and Parsons, submitted the highest bid, at Dh10 billion. The difference between the lowest and highest bids was approximately over Dh4billion. The Dubai Star consortium led by Bilfinger Berger and comprising Taisei, Besix, Orascom and local group Al Habtoor, quoted Dh8.854 billion. Finally, the Salsabeel consortium, which includes the Saudi Bin Laden Group as group leader, Siemens, Dywidag and the Chinese Citic Group, quoted Dh8.922 billion. The winner of the first phase of the DLR project will be announced in a few weeks. Works could begin as early as May 2005. 10/05.The Dubai municipality awarded a USD3.3 billion contract to the Dubai Rapid Link (DURL) consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, including Obayashi, Kajima and Yapi Merkezi of Turkey, to build a fully automated driverless metro network that will consist of two lines and 44 trains covering the main locations across Dubai and will feature elevated and underground sections. DURL also clinched a USD512 million contract to carry out maintenance of the project for 15 years. The first phase of the project comprises a 52.1 km east-west Red Line and 35 stations between Salahuddin Road to the American University of Dubai through Burjuman and Sheikh Zayed Road, and will progressively be extended to Jebel Ali Port in the south and the intersection of Al Nahda and Damascus roads through Al Qiyadah intersection in the north. The 17.6 km Green Line and 20 stations runs from Al Ittihad Square to Rashidiya bus station through Deira City Centre and the Airport Terminals 1 and 3, and will progressively be extended to serve the Deira and Bur Dubai central areas and souks up to Burjuman and Wafi shopping centres. There are two stations at Al Ittihad Square and Burjuman where the lines will intersect. The two lines will run underground in the city centre from the intersection of Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed roads to just before the intersection of Salahuddin and Abu Bakr Al Siddique roads for the Red Line and from Garhoud to Oud Metha Road for the Green Line. In total, the Metro System will include 55 stations, 18 km of tunnels, 51 km of viaduct Construction is scheduled to start in July. The red line will take 49 months to complete, while the green line will take 35 months. Work on the green line will begin 20 months after the red line's construction starts. The red line is expected to be inaugurated in September 2009. Visit http://vgn.dm.gov.ae/DMEGOV/dm-mp-metro 23/05.Geoconsult's Singapore office received a contract for overseeing tunnelling work on the Dubai metro after being appointed by the Dubai Rapid Link Consortium, whose members include Japanese companies Obayashi and Kajima, as well as the Turkish Yapi Merkezi and Capita Symonds from the UK. Atkins has also been drafted in as an advisor. Visit www.geoconsult.at and www.atkins.comThe first phase of the Metro project will be the 52.1 km Red Line running between Rashidiya and the industrial zone of Jebel Ali. The second phase will run 17.6 km from the airport, through the city centre on both sides of the Creek. There will be over 11 km of TBM-bored tunnels on both lines, with most of the excavation work taking place underneath the Creek, and between Union Square and Rashidiya. Atkins has also been drafted in as an advisor. 12/06.The Japanese-Turkish Metro JV (JTMJV) has appointed Atkins as design programme manager and detailed designer for its design-and-build contract covering phase 1 of the Dubai transit system. JTMJV comprises Obayashi, Kajima and Yapi Merkezi and, together with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), forms the Dubai Rapid Link consortium (DuRL). The JV engaged Atkins as lead consultant for all works comprising the phase one Red Line, including 26 stations (four underground), 53 km of viaducts and tunnelling and all associated infrastructure and building works. The Red Line forms the first phase of the awaited Dh15.5 billion Dubai metro project and is expected to be ready by September 2009. Visit www.atkinsglobal.com 28/06.

Mott MacDonald appointed to provide design services for Crossrail route one, the first phase of the £6 billion project. Design work includes services for all tunnels and underground stations for line 1 as well as for surface railways to the east. Line one will run from east to west linking Heathrow to Paddington then to Liverpool street in the City, with branches to Stratford and the Docklands. It includes 9 km twin tunnels starting west of Paddington station, with new deep stations at Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Farringdon. Construction to begin in 2006. Visit www.crossrail.co.uk and www.mottmac.com 24/02. Jacobs Engineering Group will provide design services, risk assessment, and preliminary costing for approximately 18 stations and 56 km of track west of Paddington, including buildings, track, bridges, tunnels, and all civil works. The scheme will require a twin 9 km tunnel between Paddington and Liverpool Street. Visit www.crossrail.co.uk and www.jacobs.com 32/02. Periodic information notice, deadline 15th February, 2003 for engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works for Crossrail Line 1. Consultants will undertake civil, mechanical and electrical design services for the purpose of preparing a parliamentary bill and subsequently for the procurement of a design and build concession or concessions for the construction of line 1. The range skills required includes tunnel design expertise in the London environment, structural design capability for railway and highway bridges, stations, depots and other ancillary structures, trackwork and signalling design, electrification design, rolling stock design and telecom design. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=014507-2003, OJ S 18, or contact Cross London Rail Links Ltd, London, fax +44 20 74917703. E-mail henrysnow@crossrail.co.uk 06/03.The UK government has revealed that the cost of Crossrail had risen to up to £15 billion and that it would take more than a decade to build. Transport secretary Alistair Darling said the plan to build Crossrail could be delayed by a further round of public consultation. This would mean Crossrail would not be built before the 2012 Olympics, which could hold back a bid by Britain to host the event. The east-to-west link includes twin 9 km mainline rail tunnels under London linking Paddington and Liverpool Street stations. They would cost about £5 billion. Crossrail would also include two branches east of Liverpool Street to Stratford and Docklands, with options to take the lines on to Ebbsfleet and Shenfield. The Department for Transport refused to say why the costs had grown by almost 50% but the Treasury is treating estimates with great scepticism after being forced to fund huge cost overruns on the Jubilee Line extension and the Channel Tunnel rail link. Visit www.crossrail.co.uk 19/03.Geotechnical Consulting Group has pocketed a £500,000 contract to undertake civil, mechanical and electrical design services. Visit www.gcg.co.uk and www.crossrail.co.uk 39/03.Restricted procedure, deadline 27th September, 2005 for requests to participate in the competition for a development manager for the design development phase of Crossrail. An outline scheme has been prepared and the project is now entering the design development phase. Details of the scheme are available at http://billdocuments.crossrail.co.uk. Crossrail's east-west line includes 9 km twin bored tunnels between Paddington and Liverpool street and six underground stations. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=161087-2005, OJ S 161, or contact Cross London Rail Links, London, fax +44 2071508804. E-mail contract1194@crossrail.co.uk. Read E-News Weekly 9/2005. 35/05.Restricted procedure, deadline 13th October, 2005 for requests to participate in the competition for multi-disciplinary consultancy services (four lots). The four packages will be: Package 1 - Surface West and North East (works on and about existing railway infrastructure); Package 2 - Central West (new tunnels and subsurface stations); Package 3 - Central East (new tunnels and subsurface stations); Package 4 - South East (new tunnels and stations and works on or about operational railway). Crossrail's east-west line includes 9 km twin bored tunnels between Paddington and Liverpool street and six underground stations. Details of the scheme are available at http://billdocuments.crossrail.co.uk. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=172086-2005, OJ S 173, or contact Cross London Rail Links, London, fax +44 2071508804. E-mail CEcontract1194@crossrail.co.uk. Read E-News Weekly 9/2005. 38/05.Restricted procedure, deadline 14th October, 2005 for technical consultancy for assessing and providing advice on CLRL's engineering proposals for the development of the Crossrail infrastructure including the planned approach to construction, the treatment of related environmental matters, and making proposals for the consideration of alternative approaches; identifying potential cost saving and risk mitigation measures; considering CLRL's programme for the development phase of Crossrail, including the allocation of resources and related costs and advising on progress against the timetable and expenditure against budget. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=173033-2005, OJ S 174, or contact Cross London Rail Links, London, fax +44 2079448440. E-mail andrea.clarke@dft.gsi.gov.uk 38/05.Bechtel received a GBP6.7 million contract to be the development manager for the design development phase of Crossrail. Read E-News Weekly 9/2005. Visit www.bechtel.com 09/06.Arup and Atkins have secured the design contract (lot 2) for Crossrail's Central West branch (new tunnels and subsurface stations). Visit www.arup.com and www.atkinsglobal.com 28/06.Mott MacDonald has been appointed for the design of the Central East branch (lot 3, new tunnels and subsurface stations). Visit www.mottmac.com 28/06.Halcrow will be responsible for the design of the South East branch from Stepney Green through to the eastern terminus at Abbey Wood (lot 4). Comprising a mixture of underground and surface running and with a minimum of three stations, the section includes the major underground Isle of Dogs station at Canary Wharf, three portals and six intermediate shafts. Visit www.halcrow.com 28/06.The new consultants will join Crossrail's existing development team which is led by Bechtel and already includes Scott Wilson Railways and Taylor Woodrow. Crossrail's east-west line includes 9 km twin bored tunnels between Paddington and Liverpool street and six underground stations. Read E-News Weekly 14/2006, 15/2005, 9/2005, 44/2004, 34/2004, 14/2004, 45/2003, 38/2003, 26/2003 & 9/2003. Visit www.crossrail.co.uk 28/06.Negotiated invitation to tender, deadline 16th May, 2008 for the appointment of a delivery partner or partners (two separate lots). Lot 1 concerns a programme delivery partner in order to fulfil CLRL’s obligations under the enabling legislation to safely deliver the overall programme, to time, to the desired quality and within the forecast outturn cost. Lot 2 concerns a project delivery partner responsible on a day to day basis for the delivery of the central tunnel section of the programme and its constituent contracts, to time, to the desired quality and within the forecast outturn cost, while fulfilling CLRL's obligations under the enabling legislation. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=88136-2008, OJ S 65, or contact Cross London Rail Links, London, tel. +44 2030239504. E-mail contract2072@crossrail.co.uk 15/08.Negotiated invitation to tender, deadline 12th May, 2008 for Crossrail design consultant frameworks.The frameworks will be used for development of the design for Crossrail to a pre-construction design status; specialist studies and technical support to CLRL; detailed design arising from changes during construction; and checking of contractor's design during construction. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=89463-2008, OJ S 66, or contact Cross London Rail Links, London, tel. +44 2030239504. E-mail contract2073@crossrail.co.uk 15/08.Negotiated procedure, deadline 19th September, 2008 for Crossrail enabling works, advance works civils framework. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=202669-2008, OJ S 150, or contact Cross London Rail Links Ltd, London, tel. +44 2030239504. Click here. Visit www.crossrail.co.uk 34-35/08.Cross London Rail Links (CLRL) has announced the names of companies and consortia bidding to become delivery partner, programme partner, and for design framework agreements for the GBP16 billion Crossrail scheme.For programme partner, to manage the overall scheme, the four shortlisted bidders are: Legacy 3 - a joint venture between Parsons Brinckerhoff and Balfour Beatty Management; Bechtel/Halcrow/Systra joint venture; Transcend - a joint venture between Aecom, CH2M Hill and Nichols Group; and Mouchel.For delivery partner, to manage the central London tunnelled sections, the five shortlisted bidders are:Legacy 3 - a joint venture between Parsons Brinckerhoff and Balfour Beatty Management; Bechtel/Halcrow/Systra joint venture; Laing O'Rourke Holdings; Flare - a joint venture between Fluor, Ove Arup and E C Harris; and a joint venture between Capita Symonds and NNN.Fifteen companies are also bidding for design framework agreements: Aedas Group; Atkins; BDP; Capita Symonds; a joint venture between Faber Maunsell and Gifford; Halcrow; Hyder Consulting; Jacobs Engineering; Mott MacDonald; Mouchel; Ove Arup & Partners International; Parsons Brinckerhoff; Scott Brownrigg; Scott Wilson Railways; and WSP UK. Visit www.crossrail.co.uk 36/08. Restricted invitation to tender, deadline 22nd October, 2008 for appointment of a project representative who will provide timely advice and assurance that the project is delivering the Sponsors' requirements within the budgeted parameters of cost, time and quality. The Sponsors are a joint team of the Department for Transport and Transport for London. Click here. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=246396-2008, OJ S 186, or contact Department for Transport, London, fax +44 2079442177. E-mail christopher.clark@dft.gsi.gov.uk 40/08.Negotiated procedure, deadline 01.12.2008, for Works and Services contract(s) that may be awarded in connection with the Tottenham Court Road Station Upgrade Project, during a period of 18 months to April 2010. Visit click here, OJ S 208 and contact London Underground Limited, Mr John P Corcoran, fax (44) 20 31 02 54 01, e-mail: john.corcoran@tube.tfl.gov.uk More at www.tube.tfl.gov.uk 45/08.

  Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority has decided on a new $140 million two-lane, immersed tube tunnel beneath the River Tyne to be financed, designed, built and operated by a private consortium. The new tunnel will effectively dual the existing A19, one of the key economic corridors in the North-East of England. Tenders will be issued in late-2003 and work is expected to begin in May, 2004 for an opening in December, 2006. More from bompr@compuserve.com or visit www.arup.com 25/01. Bid submitted by the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority to build a new £139 million Tyne tunnel. Public inquiry expected to be held in the autumn of 2002. If the scheme is approved, the new 1.6 km tunnel could be open by 2007. Immersed tube technique plus cut-and-cover. Visit www.twpta.gov.uk/ntc/index.htm 23/02.Preinformation notice for design, build and finance of a new vehicular tunnel between north and south Tyneside, all approach roads and associated works. Also operation and maintenance of the new tunnel, the existing vehicular tunnel and the existing pedestrian/cycle tunnels. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=214500-2003, OJ S 241, or contact Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority, Newcastle, fax +44 1912116099. E-mail paul.fenwick@newcastle.gov.uk. Visit www.twpta.org.uk 02/04.Restricted procedure, deadline 3rd February, 2004 for construction-related highway services including new construction, improvements, refurbishments, traffic management, repairs and maintenance. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=002056-2004, OJ S 3, or contact Council of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle, fax +44 1912115909. E-mail john.ramsay@newcastle.gov.uk or jean.jarvis@newcastle.gov.uk 03/04.Negotiated procedure, deadline 7th May, 2004 for design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of a new immersed tube tunnel, all approach roads and associated works. Also includes the upgrading of ventilation, communications, signing and emergency escapes in the 1,645 m-long existing tunnel as well as operation and maintenance of the existing tunnel and the existing pedestrian/cycle tunnels. DBFO contract expected to be awarded in autumn 2005. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=046374-2004, OJ S 54, or contact Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority, Newcastle, fax +44 1912116099. E-mail paul.fenwick@newcastle.gov.uk. Visit www.newtynecrossing.info 13/04.The four prequalified bidders for the second Tyne crossing are Balfour Beatty; John Laing; Bouygues; and a joint venture of Mowlem / Nuttall / Vinci. The four are now on the shortlist for the next stage of the procurement process. The project is to build a new 1.6 km immersed tunnel parallel to the existing crossing. The estimated capital cost is approximately GBP180 million at today's prices. Visit www.newtynecrossing.info 41/04.The Bouygues Travaux Publics-led consortium has been appointed preferred bidder designate for the New Tyne Crossing by the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority (TWPTA). The final 30-year concession contract to finance, design and construct a second vehicle tunnel alongside the existing Tyne tunnel and to operate and maintain all the tunnels (including the pedestrian and cycle tunnels) under the river, is expected to be signed in August this year. Bouygues beat the Balfour Beatty-led Connect North East consortium, which has been placed on stand-by should agreement not be reached with Bouygues. The Bouygues team includes Parsons Brinckerhoff, Wood Holmes Group, Hall Construction, Clancy Dowcra, Faber Maunsell, Insite Environments, Colas and Able UK. The New Tyne Crossing is a 1.5 km immersed tunnel and major and complex civil engineering project which will complete the dualling of the A19, a strategic road that links the North East's three largest conurbations. Click uk/36. Read E-News Weekly 6/2007, 5/2006, 44/2005, 34/2005 & 5/2003. Visit www.newtynecrossing.info, www.bouygues-construction.com, www.pbworld.com and www.fabermaunsell.com 17/07.After being named preferred bidder a few months ago, Bouygues Construction has signed the contract worth more than EUR500 million to build and operate the new Tyne crossing under-river tunnels in Newcastle. A concession operator named TT2 and made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, HSBC Infrastructure Fund II and Bank of Scotland Corporate was selected to carry out the work, which is expected to take four years, followed by the operation of the tunnels. The contract includes the design and construction of a new tunnel, the renovation of the existing tunnel, financing and the operation of the whole system for 30 years (including the duration of the works). Visit www.newtynecrossing.info and www.bouygues-construction.comMotorway A19 that links Newcastle's north and south is a dual two-lane carriageway that narrows to one single lane in each direction in the tunnel. This bottleneck causes important disruptions. The new tunnel, which will duplicate the existing tunnel link, is 1,600 m long, whereof 360 m under the Tyne. For its crossing of the river, the tunnel will consist of 90 m-long precast concrete caissons. Bouygues proposed the TIMBY (standing for Tunnel IMmergé BouYgues) process developed by its engineers Pierre Longchamp, Philippe Autuori and Patrick Palbras in conjunction with Herrenknecht but the caissons will be built in the classical manner in a dry yard. Click here. The TIMBY concept has received in January this year the first innovation prize from the French federation for public works (FNTP). Visit www.fntp.fr/actualite/dp/DPinnovation26012007.pdfTyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority (TWPTA) is to provide a subsidy of EUR160 million, HSBC Infrastructure Fund II, Bank of Scotland Corporate, and Bouygues Travaux Publics will provide EUR54 million in capital, and TT2 has contracted a EUR290 million senior debt loan from banks HSBC, Bank of Scotland Corporate and Natixis. Construction of the new tunnel, worth EUR355 million euros, will start first. When finished, all traffic will be diverted through the new tunnel while the existing tunnel is renovated and upgraded to current safety standards. Work is slated to commence in March 2008 for opening of the new tunnel and the renovated existing tunnel in December 2011. 49/07.In December, Arup has been appointed technical advisor during the construction phase which will see the existing Tyne tunnel double in capacity by introducing a new 1.6 km tunnel, including an immersed tube tunnel. The new tunnel will carry two lanes of southbound traffic while the existing tunnel will be converted to carry two lanes of traffic travelling northbound. Arup worked with the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority (TWPTA) for the last eight years to develop designs for the crossing and to help procure a concessionaire for the project. Construction of the new Tyne crossing is scheduled to begin next spring and take four years. Read E-News Weekly 4/2008. Click here. Visit www.arup.com and www.newtynecrossing.info 08/08.The contract to build the immersed tube section of Newcastle's GBP260 million Tyne tunnel has been awarded to specialist contractor Volker Stevin Marine by tunnel concessionaire TT2, a consortium led by French contractor Bouygues Travaux Publics. It handed Volker Stevin Marine the GBP16 million contract to manufacture, transport and submerse the tunnel units that will form the structure's 360 m immersed tube section. The contract involves the construction of four 90 m-long split sections of rectangular precast and reinforced concrete, which are 8.5 m by 15 m in size and altogether will require 14,400 cubic metres of concrete. The tunnel sections will be built in the dry dock before being floated down the Tyne adjacent to the existing tunnel where they are expected to be submerged in Autumn 2009. TT2 began preliminary works on the 1.6 km tunnel in April and is set to begin the cut-and-cover section of the structure this summer. The new Tyne crossing will run parallel to the existing Tyne tunnel between East Howdon on the north bank of the river Tyne and Jarrow on the south bank. The new tunnel will carry all southbound traffic, whilst the existing tunnel will carry all northbound traffic. Visit www.volkerstevin.co.uk and www.newtynecrossing.info 24/08.Meanwhile, consultant Halcrow has also been appointed to design the mechanical and electrical systems for the new Tyne crossing. The M&E design will include tunnel-related aspects of ventilation, fire and incident detection, fire suppression, traffic control, electrical supply arrangements, drainage and lighting. Visit www.halcrow.com 24/08.French-owned Bouygues Travaux Publics has appointed consultants HPR to design and manage the new Tyne crossing. The brief will include design coordination and designing components of the scheme, managing regulatory approvals and consents for the scheme, and design of highway works, the immersed tunnel, cut-and-cover tunnel approaches, bridges and buildings. The new Tyne crossing will deliver a second two-lane 1.6 km vehicle tunnel under the River Tyne to ease traffic congestion between East Howdon and Jarrow, and will complete the dualling of the A19 from its junction with the A1 in southeast Northumberland to north Yorkshire. The new tunnel is expected to open in 2010 and the refurbished existing tunnel complete in late 2011 to bring it up to modern safety standards. Construction costs are estimated at GBP260 million. Visit www.hprconsult.com and www.newtynecrossing.info 27/08.Restricted invitation to tender, deadline 26.01.2009, for asbestos removal and encapsulation works on caulking in central Newcastle tunnels owned by Nexus, the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Contract commencement 01.04.2009. Prequalification requirements, together with specs and docs, from Paul Claughton at Nexus, tel +44 19 1203 3355, e-mail paul.claughton@nexus.org.uk. http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=336748-2008 01/09.

The JV Impregilo (65 percent)/Healy-Parsons (35 percent) secured the EUR193 million (US$254 million) contract for the design and construction of the second portion of the massive tunnel system that will bring relief from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the Anacostia River. Named the Anacostia River Tunnel, this will be 7 m-diameter and 3,810 m-long beneath the Anacostia River. It begins at Poplar Point and ends near RFK Stadium. Construction will start at the north and work south, connecting to the Blue Plains Tunnel in 2017. The contract also includes six shafts with a depth of approximately 30 m and three diversion structures. The first tunnel portion of the Clean Rivers Project is already underway. For more click here. For tunnelbuilder archive click here and us/109. Visit http://www.dcwater.com. 19/13.

Award of contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff/LiRo for construction oversight and resident engineering services for new water siphon between Brooklyn and Staten Island in New York to be EPB-driven as 3.85 m-diameter, 2,883 m-long segmentally-lined tunnel which will house 1.8 m-diameter water column. Project completion late-2013. More from Judy Cooper at PB in New York, tel +1 212 465 5332. Visit us/107 and www.pbworld.com. 19/12.

On 13th May, 2008, the Omaha city council approved a USD510,000 contract with Parsons Brinckerhoff to carry out geotechnical and geophysical exploration and testing of soil and rock samples for the planned deep tunnel to be constructed under Omaha for storage and conveyance of combined storm water and sanitary sewage. The tunnel will be about 53.4 m deep and will take in overflow waste water and funnel it to a new treatment facility south of downtown. PB will use boring machines to dig six test holes along the 9.6 km-long, north-to-south route between the Gallup campus and the Veterans Memorial bridge. The machines will dig each hole to a depth of 90 metres and then bring up soil and rock samples to see what the nature of the limestone is deep underground. Drilling is expected to begin in early June and should be finished in a couple of months. The tunnel is expected to cost between USD300 million and USD400 million, making it the single most expensive component of the sewer overhaul. Visit www.pbworld.com and www.ci.omaha.ne.us/departments/city_council/agendas/ID%2008_05_13/Public%20Works/668.pdf 24/08.

Parsons and Jacobs Associates has been selected by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County to prepare a feasibility study and perform preliminary engineering for a new tunnel and ocean outfall, where chemically treated wastewater would be discharged into the ocean. The tunnel would start at a water pollution control plant in Carson with an onshore shaft and tunnel and run about 9.65 km until it goes offshore. Offshore it will involve either a tunnel, combination conventional outfall and tunnel or a conventional outfall. The new tunnel and outfall, which would be one of the world's largest and would provide improved reliability and operational capability, would be about 6 m in diameter, and it could be 25.7 to 27.4 km long by the time it is all done. The existing tunnels go about 3.2 km offshore to a depth of 60 m. Those tunnels, 2.4 m and 3.6 m in diameter respectively, are more than 50 years old, and during severe storms they run at full capacity.The districts are evaluating the feasibility of a new tunnel and ocean outfall in the context of a comprehensive master facilities plan to cover its joint outfall system, which serves a large portion of metropolitan Los Angeles County. During the feasibility phase, a team of Parsons and Districts engineers will evaluate several onshore and offshore alignments and potential diffuser locations. Following selection of the preferred alternative, Parsons will perform the preliminary design. Visit www.parsons.com, www.jacobssf.com and www.lacsd.org 36/06.

The Cobb County Water System (CCWS) selected Jordan, Jones & Goulding for the design of the South Cobb tunnel and influent lift station in Cobb County. Valued at some USD143 million, the project's design elements include some 9,150 m of 7.32 m-diameter tunnel, a 378.5 million-litres-per-day wet well/dry pit influent lift station at the South Cobb water reclamation facility and approximately 1,220 m of 1.8 m gravity sewer. It is anticipated that construction will begin in 2007 with construction funding to be provided through the Georgia Environmental Facilities Agency. The tunnel will pass through the same geologic formations (rock) as the south drive of the Chattahoochee tunnel. Visit www.jjg.com 47/05.The Cobb County Water System (CCWS) has given Parsons and its subcontractor Jacobs Associates the contract to supervise work on the USD200 million South Cobb tunnel. Parsons and Jacobs Associates will oversee construction activities, make independent cost estimates to validate those made by the engineering team, advise CCWS on contracting issues, enact a quality control plan, and assist with community outreach. Visit www.parsons.com and www.jacobssf.comThe South Cobb tunnel is a 9,150 m-long, 8.2 m-diameter tunnel with a concrete lining, construction and drop shafts, inlet structures and smaller connector tunnels. The project also includes a lift station to convey wastewater flows from the tunnel to the South Cobb water reclamation facility. When operational in 2013, the tunnel will replace existing wastewater infrastructure and provide conveyance capacity for build-out of the basin. Visit http://water.cobbcountyga.gov or www.cobbwater.org.The tunnel was designed by Jordan Jones & Goulding. A prequalification for construction will be advertised within the next six weeks. Bids will be taken in summer of 2007. The contract is to be awarded in October 2007. Tunnelling may begin around the end of 2008. A hard rock TBM will be used to bore the tunnel. Visit www.jjg.comThe project is located in the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States. In general, the geology of the Piedmont in the greater Atlanta area consists of medium-grade metamorphic rocks that have been intruded by granitic rocks in some places. A key characteristic of the Piedmont region is the thick mantle of residual soil and partially weathered rock that overlies fresh bedrock. This mantle commonly ranges from three to over 30 metres thick. The soil zone typically forms the upper 60 to 80% of this weathered mantle. The transition zone forms the remainder. The soil zone consists of residual soil plus any overlying alluvium, fill, or colluvium that might be present locally. The transition zone consists of highly fractured rock that is structurally degraded by chemical weathering that penetrates deeply into the rock matrix. The bedrock zone lies beneath this mantle and consists of both fractured and solid bedrock. 07/07.Contractors are invited to prequalify, deadline 12th April, 2007 for the South Cobb tunnel project. This project entails the construction of a large diameter, deep rock tunnel and a lift station to convey wastewater flows from the tunnel to the South Cobb water reclamation facility. The construction cost of the project has been estimated at USD200 million. The tunnel will be approximately 8,845 m in length with a 8.2 m excavated diameter and will be located in rock with depths ranging from 45.7 to 122 metres. Most of the tunnel will be excavated using a TBM with smaller drill and blast tunnels to connect five diversion/drop shaft structures to the tunnel. Approximately 75% of the tunnel is expected to be lined with cast-in-place concrete lining. The lift station will be approximately 58 m deep and will contain six vertical non-clog centrifugal pumps in a conventional wet well/dry pit configuration. The project also includes a separate electrical building. Contact Judy B. Jones, Cobb County Water System, Engineering & Records Division, 660 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, Georgia 30060. Tel. +1 770 4196339. E-mail jbjones@cobbcounty.orgThe owner anticipates advertising this project for bid in June 2007 and accepting bids in July 2007. Only contractors who have been prequalified through this process will be allowed to bid on this project. Click us/95. Visit http://purchasing.cobbcountyga.gov/documents/S3017_000.pdf 12/07.Cobb County on 11th March awarded a USD305 million contract to J.F. Shea and Traylor to build the 8.8 km 8.2 m OD South Cobb tunnel that will drain about 40% of Cobb. The tunnel will average 76 m in depth as it runs south through bedrock from near the boundary with Douglas County and then east to a treatment plant on the Chattahoochee River near I-20. Four smaller tunnels totalling 1.6 km and 1.8 to 3 m in diameter, are included. The contract contains about USD10 million in potential options that could be trimmed if necessary. The deep tunnel will cost USD38 million more than last spring's estimate and about USD105 million over projections from October 2006. Construction materials costs have gone up more than one would expect over the past year. Visit www.jfshea.com and www.traylor.comA supplemental agreement to Jordan, Jones & Goulding's original contract, the company that designed the tunnel project, was approved in the amount not to exceed USD7.5 million for providing construction engineering services (responding to RFIs, reviewing submittals, geological mapping, etc). Visit www.jjg.comThe tunnel will allow the county to avoid replacing 26 kilometres of aging sewer lines and two pumping stations. It will be the second tunnel for Cobb, which in 2004 opened a 15.3 km tunnel in East Cobb. Work is expected to begin this summer and be completed in 2014. Click us/95 for more details. 12/08.