The JV Verkeer Signalisatie & Elekronika SA  from Brussels and Yvan Paque SA from Rocourt secured the EUR5.33 million contract for works and supplies for renewal of radio, phone and fibre optic communication equipment in public transport infrastructures, metro tunnels included, in Brussels. Contact Direction infrastructure des transports publics, attn Michel Chabier, Brussels,  tel +322 2042225, email mchabier@sprb.brussels. For further tender information please click here. Ref.n. DITP-DIOV BM CSC-BB i3073-F05_0. 34/20.

Second postponement of open invitation to tender for construction of tunnel at Boulevard Leopold III. Deadline now 07.08.2009. Visit tunnelbuilder archive be/23 for background details. Contact Mrs Isabelle Genicot, DIT, Brussels, tel +32 27390694/7390627, fax +32 27342020, e-mail aanbestedingen.beliris@mobilit.fgov.be. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=195261-2009. 30/09.

Third postponement of open invitation to tender for construction of tunnel at Boulevard Leopold III. Deadline now 14.08.2009. Visit tunnelbuilder archive be/23 for background details. Contact Mrs Isabelle Genicot, DIT, Brussels, tel +32 27390694/7390627, fax +32 27342020, e-mail aanbestedingen.beliris@mobilit.fgov.be. http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=218906-2009. 33/09.

The Noriant consortium formed by VINCI, as lead company, through VINCI Concessions (35%) and CFE and its subsidiaries, Aanneming Van Wellen and Dredging International (14%), in association with Besix (25%), Cordeel ZT (11%), Fabricom GTI (10%) and Victor Buyck Steel Construction (5%), has been declared preferred bidder for the concession to operate the Oosterweelverbinding by BAM (Beheersmaatschappij Antwerpen Mobiel), the public sector entity in charge of the plan to construct Antwerp's new infrastructure. The 39-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract relates to the design, financing, building and maintenance of 30 km of traffic lanes in the northwest of Antwerp. Its aim is, in particular, to increase mobility in the Antwerp port area, by completing the western part of the ring road and providing a direct link between the E19 in the north and the E17 in the south to facilitate international transit. Construction work should last four years and should begin at the end of 2008 after the final negotiations for the conclusion of the contract. The project includes the construction of an immersed tunnel under the Schelde river, a curved two-level cable-stayed bridge with a main span of 603 metres on the right bank of the Schelde, interchanges and a toll station. Visit www.werkenantwerpen.be, www.vinci.com, www.cfe.be, www.vanwellen.be, www.dredging.com, www.besix.com and www.fabricom-gti.com 02/08.Open procedure, deadline 11.12.2008, for diagnostic studies about security equipment in Brussels-Capitale region tunnels. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=287737-2008 OJ S 216 or contact Eric Ghilain, Region Bruxelles-Capitale, fax + 32 2 2041503, e-mail: eghilain@mbhg.irisnet.be 46/08.

Negotiated procedure, deadline 15th June, 2006 for design, build, finance and maintain contract for the Liefkenshoek railway link in Antwerp between the harbour area on the left bank of the Escaut and the existing railway network on the right bank. The total length is 16.2 km, whereof 8 km in tunnel (partially bored). Read E-News Weekly 42/2005. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=083743-2006, OJ S 79, or contact Infrabel, Brussels, fax +32 25254071. E-mail gp@infrabel.be 18/06.Negotiated procedure, deadline 25th August, 2006 for geotechnical surveying (40 core drills and lab tests) along the alignment of the second rail link under the Escaut river. The project forms part of the Liefkenshoek railway link in Antwerp between the harbour area on the left bank of the Escaut and the existing railway network on the right bank. Read E-News Weekly 42/2005. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=161204-2006, OJ S 149, or contact Tuc Rail, Brussels, fax +32 25297943 or 25297810. E-mail dmc@tucrail.be 33-34/06.SMET Boring received a EUR500,000 contract for geotechnical surveying (40 core drills and lab tests) along the alignment of the second rail link under the Escaut river. The project forms part of the Liefkenshoek railway link in Antwerp between the harbour area on the left bank of the Escaut and the existing railway network on the right bank. Read E-News Weekly 42/2005. Visit www.smetboring.be 19/07.The EUR845 million Liefkenshoek railway connection project involves the construction and maintenance of the civil infrastructure for a new 16.2 km freight-only railway, whereof 8 km in tunnel, linking the western docks and eastern docks of Antwerp. The project is a design, build, finance and maintain type agreement, with a maturity period of 41½ years (3½ years for construction up to availability plus 38 years after the achievement of availability for maintenance). The promoter for the project is Infrabel. The three shorlisted teams submitted their offers in mid-June and the contract is expected to be awarded next fall. The bidders are: Besix and Eiffage; the Locorail consortium formed by BAM PPP Investments, VINCI Concessions, VINCI Construction Grands Projets and CFE; and Bouygues, Strabag, Jan de Nul, Zueblin and Macquarie. Work will take place from 2008 to 2012. 28/08.The EUR841 million PPP contract to build the 16.2 km-long Liefkenshoek twin-track rail link was awarded in November, 2008 to the Locorail consortium, formed by BAM PPP (50%), CFE (25%) and Vinci Concessions (25%). Belgian rail infrastructure manager Infrabel will rent the link for 38 years at around EUR50 million/year before assuming full ownership. The alignment includes the existing 1,475 m-long Beveren tunnel and almost 6 km of double-bored 7.3 m ID tunnel under the Schelde river. Work started in late-2008 and will be completed in mid-2013 for handover by mid-2014. Click be/20. Visit www.infrabel.be. 08/09.

Negotiated procedure, deadline 10th October, 2005 for construction of the Diabolo project, designed to provide a northern rail connection to Brussels-National airport in Zaventem, section from motorway E19 to the airport. The project mainly includes the completion and redevelopment of the dead-end underground station; entrance and exit shafts for a 8.2 m-diameter slurry mixshield; and two single-track cross-connected tunnels under the runways, the taxi areas and a hangar built on piles, with cut-and-cover stretches from the station to the exit shaft (beneath the taxi areas) and north of the bored tunnels (beneath Bataviastraat, Haecht road, Luchthavenlaan, motorway E19 and its exit and entrance). Click here for a 9-page technical description of the project. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=173143-2005, OJ S 174, or contact Infrabel, Brussels, fax +32 25254071 or TUC Rail, Brussels, fax +32 25297810. E-mail gp@infrabel.be or mip@tucrail.be 38/05.THV Dialink, a consortium consisting of Belgian contractor CEI-De Meyer, Germany's Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau (both Royal BAM Group operating companies), MBG of Belgium (affiliated to CFE, who belongs to VINCI), VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Smet Tunnelling, has been awarded a contract to build a 2,270 m-long underground rail link under Brussels National airport in Zaventem to provide a railway access to the north of Belgium. The EUR290 million underground line forms part of a scheme named Diabolo, worth EUR540 million. The underground line will be implemented through a PPP agreement between Infrabel, the state-owned railroad infrastructure manager, and two financial institutions, HSH Nordbank and Babcock & Brown, who set up a specific company for the purpose, named Northern Diabolo NV. Infrabel negotiated a 35-year contract to finance, implement and operate the tunnel with the team of financiers and at the same time negotiated with the construction consortium. Now the deal is concluded, the banks and contractors will join forces to undertake the project. Infrabel will install railroad equipment under a subcontract with Diabolo's builders. A separate subcontract will give Infrabel maintenance responsibility. The tunnel will connect Brussels airport to Mechelen and Brussels. Work is scheduled to commence at the end of October for entry in service in June 2012. Click here. Visit www.cei-demeyer.be, www.bam.nl, www.mbg.be, www.wf-ingbau.de, www.vinci-construction.com and www.smetboring.be 41/07. Ein Shemer Rubber Industries, a rubber manufacturer with over 40 years in the rubber industry, has been chosen by THV Dialink to supply rubber tunnel gaskets for the Diabolo project in Brussels. The project's aim is to connect Brussels Airport to the country's northern railway system, thus promoting rail use for airway passengers and improving accessibility to Brussels Airport. Click here and be/19. Visit www.esrubber.com or click on the banner at the top of the page. 26/08

Single tube, two-track, 1.7 km, $110 million Schuman-Josaphat tunnel to be built with rectangular 12 m x 6 m section using diaphragm wall techniques beneath existing road. Tenders in 2002 for construction start 2003 and opening 2007.Visit www.tucrail.com 08/01.Open tendering, deadline 12th November, 2001, for technical design of Schuman-Josaphat tunnel in sands and sandstone. Estimated cost Euro125 million financed by the State. Visit http://ted.eur-op.int, document S 181-124497 or contact the Ministry, fax +32 2 7342020. Also visit www.mcidtff.be 41/01.Open invitations to tender, deadlines 13th October, 2003 and 28th October, 2003 for preliminary research, tests and ground investigation works as part of the Léopold-Josaphat rail connection, including the 2 km twin-track Schuman-Josaphat tunnel. This tunnel will run 300 m under the Residence Palace building and Rue de la Loi, a 100 m concrete box under Berlaymont (already built), 1,250 m near Archimède Street up to tram line 26 and a 350 m section (already built) used by tram line 26. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=159148-2003, OJ S 176, and http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=166773-2003, OJ S 185, or contact Service public fédéral mobilité et transports, Brussels, fax +32 27342020. E-mail cbo@mcidtff.be 41/03.Technical design for section 1 of the Schuman-Josaphat tunnel, from Archimède Street to Jamblinne de Meux Square, has been awarded to Bagon and SGI. Visit www.bagon-set.be and www.sgiconsulting.com. For section 2 from Jamblinne de Meux Square to tram line 26, the successful bidder is the Grontmij Belgroma / Maunsell JV. Tenders for construction in 2005. Commissioning in 2010. Visit www.belgroma.be and www.maunsell.com 41/03.Negotiated procedure, deadline 16th August, 2005 for civil engineering works for the Schuman-Josaphat rail connection, including two contracts. Contract Beliris - Infrabel - I.1.21.1. is for 300 m of tunnel under the Residence Palace building and Rue de la Loi and Schuman multimodal station. Contract Beliris - Infrabel - I.1.21.2. is for the 1,250 m twin-track Schuman-Josaphat tunnel between Archimede Street and the tram line 26 junction running under Archimede Street, the Archimede-Stevin-Cortenberg complex, Cortenbergh Avnue, Jamblinne de Meux Square, Plasky Avenue, the Plasky-E. Max-Victor Hugo complex. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=095205-2005, OJ S 96, or contact Service public fédéral, Mobilité et transports, Brussels, fax +32 27342020. E-mail valerie.vanderkelen@mobilit.fgov.be. More info in E-News Weekly 23/2005. 23/05.Three operating companies of Dutch builder Royal BAM Group, namely CEI-De Meyer, Galère and Wayss & Freytag, have won a contract in joint venture with Jan De Nul and Franki Geotechnics for the construction of the Schuman-Josaphat rail link in Brussels. The contract value amounts to approximately EUR210 million. The project includes the reconstruction of the current Schuman rail and underground station, as well as the construction of a 1.5 km-long rail tunnel in the European quarter of Brussels. Visit www.bam.nl, www.cei-demeyer.be, www.galere.be, www.wf-ingbau.de, www.jandenul.com and www.franki-geotechnics.be 21/08.

Stratec from Bruxelles secured the contract for impact evaluation on Gare du Nord station  (Lot1) from works linked to the 5km Metro North  extension project in Brussels toward Schaerbeek and Evere. Contact Direction infrastructure de transport, Bruxelles, tel +32 22774688, email adjudications.beliris@mobilit.fgov.be. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=292848-2018. Ref.n. DIT-1.26.1.10.-F06_0. 29/18.

Negotiated invitation to tender, deadline 14/07/2020, for the extension towards North – from Gare du Nord and Bordet – of the metro line in Brussels. The contract includes construction of 4.5km of tunnels by TBM, a TBM launch shaft, 7 stations and a connection  to the depot and maintenance centre at Haren (lot 3).  The value of the contract is EUR600 million, excluding VAT, the duration of the contract is 74 months. For tender documents please click here and here. Tender offers must be registered here. For further information Direction infrastructure de transport, Bruxelles, tel +32 22774665, email aanbestedingen.beliris@mobilit.fgov.be. Ref.n. Beliris-1.26.1.35.-F05_0. 20/20.

Award of two contracts for 990 MW Punatsangchu 2 hydropower project to Jaiprakash Associates: EUR190 million for construction of diversion tunnel, dam intake and desilting arrangements including hydro-mechanical works, and highway tunnel; EUR130 million for construction of headrace tunnel from surge shaft, surge shaft, butterfly valve chamber, pressure shafts, powerhouse and tailrace tunnel including hydro-mechanical works. Visit tunnelbuilder archive bt/12 for project history. More from www.jalindia.com. 30/11.

  Project on Wangchu river will generate 1020 MW and will require 22.25 km x 50 m² headrace tunnel, 2 x 992 m long pressure shafts, 2.2 km x 60 m² tailrace tunnel and underground powerhouse. Mainly Atlas Copco equipment delivered under $8 million package.  Work commenced November, 1998 for completion May, 2004. Larsen & Toubro awarded RS900 million contract November, 1998 to build tunnel for Tala Hydroelectric Project Authority for completion early 2004. February 1999.   Five contract packages numbered C-1 to C-5. C-1 comprises the dam complex and 6 km of headrace tunnel (HRT) awarded to Hindustan Construction Company (HCC); C-2 excavation of HRT from 6 km mark to 11 km mark awarded to Jaiprakash Industries; C-3 excavation of HRT from 11 km mark to 15 km mark awarded to Larsen & Toubro; C-4 excavation of HRT from 15 km mark to 22.9 km mark awarded to HCC; C-5 comprises surge shaft, pressure shafts, powerhouse, and 2.2 km tailrace tunnel awarded to Jaiprakash. Each of the contracts has its own access roads and adits, and the individual sites are self-sufficient. Client THPA has built 80 km of access roads to date and work is proceeding on another 20 km to complete. THPA also procured a starter pack of equipment for each contract during tender phase in order to speed up mobilisation. These were on a cost reimbursement basis and included per contract: an Atlas Copco 352 drillrig; a Boltec 435 H rockbolter; a CIFA CSS 2 Spritzsystem shotcrete jumbo; a CK90E 1.2 cu m electric loader; and two Wagner MT 420 dumptrucks. Contractors have since been adding to the fleet, generally purchasing more of the same models.   To date, HCC has completed the diversion tunnel under C-1 and is proceeding to establish three massive desilting chambers and the first section of HRT. Jaiprakash has not been so fortunate on C-2 where it had to deal with a 15 m-long face collapse when it intersected an aquifer 122 m from the portal in its Pade Chu adit. Currently advancing with caution under the protection of 15 m probeholes. Larsen & Toubro has more than half completed its 975 m-long Gedu Chu access adit under C-3, and HCC has nearly completed its 301 m-long Mirchan Chu access adit on C-4. Jaiprakash is portalling at the surge shaft position on C-5. More information from mdthpa@druknet.net.bt October 1999. Shri R. N. Khazanchi, MD of Tala Hydroelectric Project Authority (THPA) in the Himalayan mountain kingdom of Bhutan, has commented on the widespread damage caused to the project by the unprecedented rainfall in early August. Flooding affected the five worksites strung out along the Wangchu river, washing out access roads and destroying workshops and machinery. Even the main highway from Phuntsholing, along which vital supplies are transported, was cut by landslides in a number of places. Measures have been initiated to minimise the impact on the commissioning schedule of the project, despite the severe losses of infrastructural facilities, construction equipment and civil engineering works. Undaunted, THPA has commenced the construction of two 400 kV double circuit transmission lines for the 1,020 MW project for export of surplus power to India through a proposed substation at Siliguri. The lines will be completed in 3 years time to match the commissioning of the generating units. Within Bhutan they will be installed by Larsen & Toubro, and from the Indo-Bhutan border for 1,500 km to Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, near Delhi, by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.  Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Minister for Trade, Industry & Power, Royal Government of Bhutan, who is also the chairman of THPA, commended the management and contractors for the speedy restoration of works. More from linkman@druknet.net.bt or mdthpa@druknet.net.bt October 2000.

The Bolivian road administration (ABC) has started on 26th August the construction of the Falda de la Queí±ua bypass road tunnel, during an official ceremony held in El Molino in the Iscayachi municipality. The Falda de la Queí±ua bypass road, which forms part of the Potosi-Tarija road link, will reduce transport time from Potosi to Tarija, avoiding the Sama hill. The 1,220 m tunnel, located at El Condor mountain pass in the Tarija department, will be constructed by the La Queí±ua joint venture, led by construction company Roca, for USD8.4 million. The project will be supervised by the CPS-Belmonte joint venture. The detailed design of the Falda de la Queí±ua bypass road was carried out by the Ecoplan-Noronha joint venture. The tunnel will cross rock of Class III (Bieniawski) with some stretches falling within Class IV and Class V associated with faults. The west mouth is located at a height of 3,402 m above sea level whereas the east mouth lies at a height of 3,339 m asl. There is a 63 m difference in height between the two sides. The tunnel will make the existing road seven kilometres shorter and reduce in approximately 500 metres the altitude of the 100% mountainous road through the Sama hill. The portals will be cut in rock and stabilised with steel anchors, metallic netting and a concrete layer. The tunnel will be concluded in August next year. Click here for more details (in Spanish). 36/08.