Municipality of Amsterdam announced plans for 9.5 km line with 7 stations to connect World Trade Centre in the south of the city with Buisklotermeerplen in the north with possible extensions south to Schiphol airport and Hoofdorp and north to Purmerend and Zaanstad. Some 6 km of the initial project will be underground with 4 km in bored tunnels, some beneath buildings with wooden piles. Nov 1998.   Project now divided into 15 contracts and tenders invited for contract 4 which comprises 3.8 km in 5.8 m i.d. bored tunnels to intersect four underground stations at Centuurban, Vijzelgracht, Rokin and Centraal where a connection will be made with the East/West line. Second contract will be for supply of two shields to a design requiring a choice of cutterheads, face stabilisation by slurry, EPB or compressed air, and muck removal by screw or belt conveyor. June 1999.   Invitation to tender for 2 x 3.8 km bored tunnels with 5.8 m internal diameter and supply of two TBMs. August 1999. Deadline 18th May for new invitation to prequalify for Contract 4.2 for bored tunnels and contracts 5.2, 6.2, and 7.2 for three cut-and-cover stations to be built within diaphragm walls at Rokin, Vijzelgracht and Ceintuurbaan. The twin-tube tunnels are 3.8 km-long x 5.6 m-diameter, requiring two TBMs from list of four prequalified manufacturers. Tender deadline for prequalified contractors will then be 15th October this year with a view to award in Spring, 2001. Tenders should be mailed to the project bureau, PB 95089, 1090 HB Amsterdam, Netherlands. Fuller picture at http://ted.eur-op.eu.int select 45 221 240. May 2000. Prequalified contractors for $960 million, 3.8 km x 6.5 m-diameter north-south line, contract 4, invited to bid by mid-December are Bouygues/Koop; BTC; Comol; HBN; Saturn; and Tubicon. Award should be mid-2001, with construction starting September, 2001. Preferred suppliers of TBMs are Herrenknecht, IHI, Kawasaki and Mitsubishi. 9.5 km-long project includes 2.5 km at grade plus 3.5 km cut-and-cover and 350 m immersed tube across IJ river. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int November 2000.   Open invitation to tender, deadline 4th October, 2001, for construction of 420 m-long immersed tube, 300 m-long cut and cover, and three stations. Award expected end-2001 for start of work early 2002. Contact North-South Line Project Bureau, fax +31 204 167335. Visit www.nzlijn.amsterdam.nl 32/01.  €26.8 million award to Heijmans of contract 3.3 consisting of three tunnel caisson pieces totalling 250 m to be built above ground and then sunk below ground in the sand. One of these tunnel caissons will be the start shaft for the bored tunnel. Visit www.heijmans.nlContract 2.2 worth €54.2 million has been won by Heijmans and Strukton Betonbouw for building four tunnel elements totalling 800 m. Three of these elements will be sunk on the Ij riverbed. One of these elements is for contract 3.1/3.2. It will be pushed under Centraal Station. Visit www.struktonbetonbouw.com Contract 3.1/3.2 has been scooped by Strukton Betonbouw and Van Oord ACZ for €177 million for constructing a complex underground station under Centraal Station. Visit www.voacz.com Contracts 5.2, 6.2 and 7.2 for the construction in cut-and-cover of the Rokin, Vijzelgracht and Centuurbaan stations awarded to Max Bögl Nederland for €223.2 million. Visit www.max-boegl.de and www.nzlijn.amsterdam.nl 13/03.The north-south line's contract 4.2, which will be built by consortium Saturn, including Dura Vermeer, Walter Bau/Dywidag and Zueblin, includes a 2 x 3.2 km tunnel. The inner diameter is 5.82 m and the excavated diameter is 7.12 m. Two new Herrenknecht TBMs will be used, capable to work in slurry and EPB mode. The tunnel will be segmentally lined. In slurry mode, the spoil will be transported by pipe conveyor to the separation plant on a platform in the Ij river where the bentonite will be separated from the ground. Then, the spoil will be transported by boat to a dump site. In EPB mode, the mucking-out equipment will consist of a screw conveyor behind the cutting head and probably a pipe system. The stations are about 200 m long. Tunnelling start in September or October 2006 for completion in February 2008. Visit www.ivv.amsterdam.nl/nzlijn, www.herrenknecht.com, www.duravermeerinfra.nl, www.walter-bau.de and www.zueblin.de 25/04.Open call for bids, deadline 8th June, 2005 for construction of RAI / Europaplein station (contract 8.2), a 180 m-long underground station and its adjacent dual-track tunnels (240 m and 260 m). Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=057174-2005, OJ S 59, or contact Gemeente Amsterdam, Amsterdam, fax +31 204167335. Also visit www.noordzuidlijn.amsterdam.nl 13/05.

  Three tunnels along 160 km alignment: Botlek, Sophia and Pannerdensch. Botlek is 1.74 km and is being built by BTC consortium using a Herrenknecht TBM. Sophia is 6 km and will be built by the Tubecon consortium. Clays and peaty layers under high water tables. Netherlands Railways Betuwe Management Group is the responsible authority through the offices of Rene Buvelot and Jan Jonker. Consultant: Professor Bernard Maidl, Ruhr University. Completion for 2005. March 1998.   Invitation to tender for design and construct of line south including tunnels. August 1999.   Contract award to jv of Heymans, Strukton, Boskalis and CFE for 22 km-long Papendrecht-Lingeval section of the Betuwe line from Rotterdam to Cologne value $220 million. Includes 1.4 km Giessen tunnel in cut-and-cover. November 1999.   Award of $160 million contract to Comol jv for 1.85 km-long, 8.65 m-diameter twin-tube tunnel on Betuwe line to cross beneath Pannerdensch canal and main Zevenaar railway lines for a start in April, 2000. Comol comprises Dumez-GTM, Campenon Bernard, TBI Betonen Waterbow, Welling Didam and CFE. January 2000.   The Betuwe line will be twin track throughout and parallels the A15 highway across Holland. It involves some 130 structures, which include five tunnels totalling 18 km in length. Total project cost estimated at $4.5 billion. Zevenaar tunnel near Emmerich will be 1.5 km-long cut-and-cover using sheet piling with underwater concrete. Giessen tunnel base will have to be supported on piles because of poor support characteristics of ground in this area. Currently in design to cross beneath small waterway. March 2000.  Consortium Comol led by Vinci allied with CFE, TBI Beton-en Waterbau and Welling started excavating beneath Pannerdensch Kanaal near Arnhem using Herrenknecht Mixshield from Cairo metro. Two 9.8 m-diameter bores of 1,600 m to be driven in tricky conditions consisting of sand and clay together with crossing of a dyke and a flooded sand quarry. Contract value is Euro160 million. Visit www.groupe-vinci.com and www.herrenknecht.com 42/01.

Project manager Nippon Koei and contractor Odebrecht have taken delivery of Herrenknecht 3.6 m-diameter EPB to excavate 7 km-long wastewater interceptor for Panama City and Bay of Panama sewage project. Tunnel will be lined with plastic faced segments. More from www.panamacompra.gob.pa or contact project coordinator Eng Juan Antonio Ducruet at Government of Panama, tel +507 5129-373, fax -520, e-mail jducruet@minsa.gob.pa. 34/10.

  Two lines to be built: north-south between Sto Ovido, Trinidad and Hosp S Joao with 3 km underground, and east-west between Mercado, Trinidad and Campanha, with 2.7 km underground. Concession signed with Metro do Porto and contract placed with Normetro. Civil works by jv of Soares da Costa, Impregilo and Soconstroi. Consultant: Geoconsult E-mail office@gcs.co.at contact F L Jansky. February 1999.   Arge Transmetro will use 8.71 m-diameter Herrenknecht EPB for 5.7 km twin-track extension in mixed loose and solid hard rock comprising 50% to 90% granite, commencing early-2000. Visit www.herrenknecht.com April 2000.   Kaiser Engineers providing construction management services to $1 billion light rail transit system in jv with Cinclus and Gibb. System will comprise four lines totalling 70 km route length with 7 km in tunnel and 66 stations of which 10 will be underground. Project completion is scheduled for 2005. Visit www.kaiserengineers.com for a full statement. May 2000.   Second Herrenknecht tunnel boring machine ordered by Metro do Porto to link the Salgueiros and Trindade stations under assembly for tunnelling start at summer 2002. Visit www.herrenknecht.com 45/01.  Mott MacDonald and Geodata of Italy have been appointed by Transmetro, a jv of Soares da Costa, Somague and Impregilo, to provide detailed design and construction supervision for all the tunnelling works, which comprise 7 km of bored tunnels lined with reinforced concrete segments for Lines C (2.3 km), S (4 km) and J (700 m). The team will also review and coordinate the design of the civil works with the mechanical, electrical and systems contractors to ensure compatibility and compliance of the works with international best practice. To cope with the varying ground conditions, ranging from massive fresh granite to decomposed and often loose weathered material, two Herrenknecht EPB tunnel boring machines of 8.7 m and 9 m-diameter will be used. Visit www.metro-porto.pt, www.mottmac.com, www.geodata.it or www.herrenknecht.com 09/02.Open call for tenders, deadline 21st January, 2008 for construction of the Estí¡dio do Dragí£o-Venda Nova section of the Gondomar line, including a 980 m tunnel. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=252962-2007, OJ S 208, or contact Metro do Porto, Porto, fax +361 225081001. E-mail geral@metro-porto.pt 44/07.The deadline for submission of tenders for construction of the Estí¡dio do Dragí£o-Venda Nova section of the Gondomar line, including a 980 m tunnel, has been extended to 4th March, 2008. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=305459-2007, OJ S 250, or contact Metro do Porto, Porto, fax +361 225081001. E-mail geral@metro-porto.pt 02/08.The eight candidates to construct the 6.5 km Estí¡dio do Dragí£o-Venda Nova section of the Gondomar line, including a 980 m tunnel, are Mota-Engil, Somague, Soares da Costa, Monte Adriano and Efacec; Lena, Abrantina and Bento Pedroso; Conduril and Tecnovia; Isolux Corsí¡n-Corviam, DTS (Domingos da Silva Teixeira) and Alexandre Barbosa Borges (ABB); Teixeira Duarte, OFM and Thales; Ramalho Rosa, FDO, Gabriel Couto and FCC; Zagope, Hagen and Siemens; and Edifer and Opway. Construction will take 21 months for opening in end 2010 or early 2011. 13/08.A consortium of Somague, Soares da Costa, Mota Engil, Efacec and Monte Adriano has been awarded the construction contract of the light rail line between Porto and Gondomar, which has an estimated investment of EUR97.5 million. The offer presented by this consortium is EUR10 million higher than the low bid submitted by one of the eight candidates that participated in the tendering, but the ministry of public works, transportation and communications justifies its decision saying that the selected consortium is the strongest. The Gondomar line will be 6,625 m long and serve ten stations, connecting the Dragí£o Stadium with Venda Nova. It includes a 980 m 65 sq m tunnel, between the future stations of Joí£o de Deus and Parque Nascente, that will be excavated using NATM (drill and blast as well as roadheader), and a 150 m cut-and-cover tunnel. Work will last 19 months. Visit www.somague.pt, www.soaresdacosta.pt and www.mota-engil.pt 36/08.

  2 x 1,505 m Silver forest tunnel under construction in Moscow by Mosmetrostroy using the Herrenknecht TBM previously used for the Lefortovo tunnel. It is a 2,600 t, 63 m-long mixshield, outer diameter 14.2 m, total installed main drive power of 3,200 kW + 315 kW for central cutter wheel, total installed power of 5,196 kVA and maximum thrust force of 120,000 kN. Geology is sand (nearly 600 m), then shifting to clay with inclusions of limestone and rocks up to 1 m. Concrete lining rings consisting of eight segments plus key, each ring is 2,000 m in width. Separation plant and slurry pipes by MS of France. Length of tunnel already excavated to date is 1,238 m with expected breakthrough date on first tunnel scheduled for 15th March. Visit www.herrenknecht.com, www.m-s.fr and www.metrostroy.ru 07/05.

  3.2 km three-lane motorway tunnel to be constructed using 14.2 m-diameter Herrenknecht Mixshield from recently-completed fourth Elbe tunnel in Germany. More from www.herrenknecht.com March 2000. Ceresola has stripped and refurbished the Elbetunnel concrete segment production line and installed it for Transstroy Corporation at its Leforto motorway site. Rings of 13.75 m o.d. erected by Herrenknecht EPB will comprise 8+1 segments of thickness 700 mm, length 2 m, and with maximum weight 18t. Visit www.ceresola.com and www.herrenknecht.com Sept 2000.  

  Herrenknecht announced that it has delivered a total of six complete microtunnelling systems for constructing oil and gas pipelines in Riyadh, Damman and East Saudian. Contact through www.herrenknecht.com April 2000.

Circle Line - sg/15Metro Feasibility study by LTA for an orbital metro route connecting the suburbs to the west, north and east of the island's city centre. Preferred route links Paya Lebar on the West line to Bishan on the MRT North line, Serangoon on the North East line and Buona Vista on the East line. Construction to start 2005, following completion of the NEL, Changi Airport branch and the first phase of the Marina line. Island's rail network will be virtually doubled from 83 to 154 route-km by 2005. Four more metro routes are included in the long-term development strategy for completion by 2030, with the ring line to be followed by new routes serving Jurong, Bukit Timah and Tampines in the east. December 1999.   First stage now called Marina Line Extension, from Boulevard station at national stadium to rail staging yards at Upper Paya Lebar. Tenders for consultancy contract have closed and announcement of award pending. Visit www.gov.sg/gitis/ 15/01.   Invitation by LTA to contractors to pre-qualify for Stage 2 with route length 5.5 km from Stadium Boulevard with stations at Old Airport Road (OAR), Tanjong Katong (TKT), Paya Lebar (PYL), Macpherson (MPS) and Upper Paya Lebar (UPL), and an underground depot at Kim Chuan. PYL station will interchange with the existing Paya Lebar (East-West Line) MRT station. All stations except PYL and UPL will be designed as underground civil defence stations. Visit www.gov.sg/gitis and www.lta.gov.sg 35/01. Maunsell Consultants proceeding with $436m design contract for Circle Line second stage, with 5.5 km of bored and cut-and-cover tunnels and five underground stations. Construction to start by end-2002 for completion in 2006. Visit www.lta.gov.sg/projects 42/01. A jv of Econ Corporation Ltd and NCC has been awarded contract C822 for approximately S$338.6 million for construction of the MacPherson and Upper Paya Lebar underground stations and tunnels. Visit www.gov.sg/lta and www.ncc.se 33/02.Lum Chang Building Contractors Pte Ltd and Nishimatsu have won a S$321.6 million order for contract C823. The partners will build the Old Airport Road, Tanjong Katong and Paya Lebar underground stations and 3,300 m of bored tunnels. EPB shield machines to be used, outer diameter 6.63 m. Visit www.gov.sg/lta and www.nishimatsu.co.jp. C822 and C823 are part of Circle Line stage 2. Contract periods from 1st August, 2002 to 30th August, 2006. 33/02. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has issued several open invitations to tender for the construction of tunnels and underground stations as part of Stage 3 of the Circle Line (CCL). Contract C852, deadline 28th April, 2003 is for the construction of Serangoon interchange station and associated tunnels between Bartley and Serangoon stations and between Serangoon and Lorong Chuan stations. Contract C853, deadline 21st April, 2003 is for the construction of Marymount station and associated tunnels between Lorong Chuan and Bishan stations and Bishan and Marymount stations. Contract C851A, deadline 16th April, 2003 is for the construction of Bartley station. Contract C852A, deadline 16th April, 2003 is for the construction of Lorong Chuan station. Contract C853A, deadline 25th April, 2003 is for the design and construction of Bishan interchange station. Contact Land Transport Authority, Projects & Engineering Office, Contracts & Process Division, Tenders Section, 1 Hampshire Road, Block 1, Singapore 219428. Contact Mr Kho Cheong Kiat, tel.+65 63961180 or Ms Low Bee Eng, tel. +65 63961202. E-mail bee_eng_low@lta.gov.sg. Tenders have already been invited for electrical services, tunnel ventilation and environmental control systems, and fire protection systems. Read E-News Weekly # 62.Stage 3 will extend the line from Upper Paya Lebar Road/Bartley Road to Marymount Road. This stretch with five underground stations is 5.7 km-long. Construction will start in the third quarter of 2003 to end in early 2008. Construction cost of about S$1.2 billion. The CCL is an orbital line linking all radial metro lines running into the city. It will run from Dhoby Ghaut to Paya Lebar, Serangoon, Bishan, Buona Vista and Harbour Front. Visit www.lta.gov.sg 10/03. The 12 prequalified tenderers for contract C852, which is the construction of Serangoon interchange station and associated tunnels between Bartley and Serangoon stations and between Serangoon and Lorong Chuan stations, are Econ / NCC International; Hyundai Engineering & Construction; Leighton; Nishimatsu; Obayashi; Penta-Ocean Construction; Samsung / Tiong Seng; Taisei; Tobishima / Wan Soon Construction; Woh Hup / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering / Alpine Mayreder; Züblin / Koh Brother Building & Civil Engineering; and Ssang Yong Engineering & Construction.The 11 prequalified candidates for contract C853, which is the construction of Marymount station and associated tunnels between Lorong Chuan and Bishan stations and Bishan and Marymount stations, are Greatearth Construction / United Engineers / Sato Kogyo; Hyundai Engineering & Construction; Leighton; Obayashi; Penta-Ocean Construction; Samsung; Taisei; Tobishima / Wan Soon Construction; Woh Hup / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering / Alpine Mayreder; Züblin / Koh Brother Building & Civil Engineering; and Ssang Yong Engineering and Construction. Visit www.lta.gov.sg 16/03. Contract C852A for construction of the Lorong Chuan station has been awarded to Sato Kogyo for S$65 million. The contract is part of Stage 3 of the Circle Line. The contract involves civil, structural, architectural, plumbing, drainage and reinstatement works for the station. More in E-News Weekly # 28/2003. Visit www.lta.gov.sg and www.satokogyo.com.sg 28/03.Prequalification, deadline 25th July, for civil construction of the stations and tunnels for Stages 4 and 5, contracts 854, 855 and 856. The internal diameter of the bored tunnels will be 5.8 m approximately. Contract 854 is for construction of 5.3 km of twin bored tunnels, 320 m of cut-and-cover tunnels, and three underground stations. Contract 855 is for construction of 4 km of twin bored tunnels, 350 m of cut-and-cover tunnels, civil works for three underground stations, and architectural and building services for another four stations. Contract 856 is for construction of 3.4 km of twin bored tunnels, 640 m of cut-and-cover tunnels, civil works for four underground stations, and architectural and building services for five more stations. Tunnelling using both slurry and EPB TBMs. Contact Land Transport Authority, Project & Engineering Office, Contracts & Process Division, Tenders Section, Section 1, Hampshire Road Block 1, Singapore 219428, Mr Kho Cheong Kiat, tel. +65 63961180 or Ms Low Bee Eng, tel. +65 63961202, e-mail bee_eng_low@lta.gov.sg. Visit www.gebiz.gov.sg 29/03.Civil works contract C852 for Stage 3 of the Circle Line (CCL), worth S$155.9 million, has been awarded to to the Woh Hup / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. (STEC) / Alpine Mayreder JV. This contract involves the construction and completion of Serangoon interchange station, the interconnecting tunnels from Serangoon station to Lorong Chuan station, and from Serangoon station to Bartley station. Visit www.wohhup.com, www.stec.net and www.alpine.at 43/03.Contract C853 for the construction and completion of Marymount station including the tunnels between Lorong Chuan and Bishan stations and Bishan and Marymount stations has been awarded to Taisei Corporation for S$167.7 million. This contract involves the civil, structural, architectural, plumbing, drainage and reinstatement works for the station including the twin bored tunnels. Visit www.taisei.co.jp/english 43/03.Contract C851A for the construction of Bartley station has been awarded to Wan Soon Construction for S$63.5 million. This contract involves the civil, structural, architectural, plumbing, drainage and reinstatement works for the station. Visit www.wansoon.com.sg 43/03.Contract C853A for the design, construction and completion of Bishan interchange station has been awarded to a JV between Econ Corporation and Eng Lim Construction for S$82.2 million. This contract involves the civil, structural, architectural, plumbing, drainage and reinstatement works for the station. Visit www.econ.com.sg 43/03.Stage 3 of the CCL is 5.7 km-long with five stations, running from Bartley Road to Marymount Road, with interchange stations at Serangoon (with the North East Line) and Bishan (with the North-South Line). It will cost about S$1.2 billion to build. Visit www.lta.gov.sg 43/03.As part of Stages 4 and 5 of the CCL, the twelve prequalified applicants for contract C854 are Züblin / Koh Brothers; Gammon Skanska; Hyundai / Straits Construction; Leighton; Obayashi; Penta Ocean; Sato Kogyo / Greatearth Construction; Sembcorp; SsangYong; Taisei; Tobishima / Wan Soon; and Wayss & Freytag. Contract 854 comprises 5.3 km of 5.8 m-diameter twin bored tunnels, 320 m of cut-and-cover tunnels, and three underground stations. 43/03.The eleven prequalified proponents for contract C855 are Züblin / Koh Brothers; Hyundai / Straits Construction; NCC; Nishimatsu / Lum Chang; Obayashi; Samsung; Sato Kogyo / Greatearth Construction; Shimizu / United Engineer; Taisei; Tobishima / Wan Soon; and Woh Hup / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. / Alpine Mayreder. Contract 855 comprises 4 km of 5.8 m-diameter twin bored tunnels, 350 m of cut-and-cover tunnels, civil works for three underground stations, and architectural and building services for another four stations. 43/03.The twelve prequalified candidates for contract C856 are Gammon Skanska; Leighton; NCC; Nishimatsu / Lum Chang; Obayashi / Sato Kogyo; Penta Ocean; Samsung; Sembcorp; Shimizu / United Engineer; SsangYong; Wayss & Freytag; and Woh Hup / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. / Alpine Mayreder. Contract 856 comprises 3.4 km of 5.8 m-diameter twin bored tunnels, 640 m of cut-and-cover tunnels, civil works for four underground stations, and architectural and building services for five more stations. All bored tunnels to be driven using slurry and EPB TBMs. Visit www.lta.gov.sg 43/03.There have been changes in the prequalified JVs for Stages 4 and 5 of the Circle Line. There are now six prequalified applicants for contract C854 instead of 12 before. They are Zueblin / Koh Brothers / NCC; Hyundai / Straits Construction; Obayashi / Sato Kogyo / Greatearth Construction; Sembcorp; Taisei; and Tobishima / Wan Soon. Contract 854 comprises 5.3 km of 5.8 m-diameter twin bored tunnels, 320 m of cut-and-cover tunnels, and three underground stations. 17/04.There are now ten prequalified proponents for contract C855 instead of eleven. They are Zueblin / Koh Brothers / NCC; Hyundai / Straits Construction; Nishimatsu / Lum Chang; Obayashi; Sato Kogyo / Greatearth Construction; Shimizu / United Engineer; Taisei / Sembcorp; Tobishima / Wan Soon; Wayss and Freytag / China State Construction Engineering Corporation; and Woh Hup / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. / Alpine Mayreder. Contract 855 comprises 4 km of 5.8 m-diameter twin bored tunnels, 350 m of cut-and-cover tunnels, civil works for three underground stations, and architectural and building services for another four stations. 17/04.The nine prequalified candidates for contract C856, instead of 12 previously, are Leighton; NCC; Nishimatsu / Lum Chang; Obayashi / Sato Kogyo; Penta Ocean; Shimizu / United Engineer; Taisei / Sembcorp ; Wayss & Freytag; and Woh Hup / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. / Alpine Mayreder. Contract 856 comprises 3.4 km of 5.8 m-diameter twin bored tunnels, 640 m of cut-and-cover tunnels, civil works for four underground stations, and architectural and building services for five more stations. All bored tunnels to be driven using slurry and EPB TBMs. Visit www.lta.gov.sg 17/04.A Nishimatsu / Lum Chang JV has emerged as the lowest bidder for contract C855 as part of Stage 4 of the 33 km Circle Line. The contract is for the construction of the Holland, Buona Vista and National University Hospital stations, 4 km of 5.8 m-diameter twin bored tunnels and 350 m of cut-and-cover tunnels. Nishimatsu-Lum Chang's bids were between SGD376.4 million and SGD389 million. The next lowest bids, from the Woh Hup-Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co.-Alpine Mayreder consortium, were between SGD391 million and SGD398 million. The other bids came from Obayashi (SGD400.3 million), SembCorp Engineers (between SGD399 million and SGD404 million) and a team formed by Shimizu and United Engineers (between SGD448.8 million and SGD452.6 million). If the lowest bid has the best chance of winning, because of the Nicoll Highway collapse, the authorities will take longer to deliberate on who should be given the job. Visit www.lta.gov.sg. Subscribe to E-News Weekly 22/2004. 23/04.Taisei put in the lowest bid to win a SGD391.6 million contract to build a section of stages 4 and 5 of the MRT Circle Line. Its bid was almost SGD30 million less than the next lowest. The contract is the first of three civil works contracts for the two stages of the underground Circle Line. It involves the building of Adam and Farrer stations, twin tunnels of 6.3 km each, provisions for future stations in Bukit Brown and Thomson Road, as well as the construction of commuter facilities. Visit www.lta.gov.sg and www.taisei.co.jp/english 30/04.A civil works contract, worth SGD399.9 million, for the construction and completion of Holland, Buona Vista and National University Hospital stations, including fit out works and tunnels for One-North station has been awarded to the Woh Hup / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. / Alpine Mayreder JV, as part of Stages 4 and 5 of the Circle Line. This is the second of three civil works contracts to be awarded for these two stages. Visit www.lta.gov.sg 35/04.This JV already won contract C852 as part of Stage 3 and has purchased Black Diamond Cutters' single and twin 17 inch cutter assemblies for use on the two Herrenknecht TBMs for this project, with diameter 6.3 m on 2 x 3 km drives. Delivery is for October 2004. Visit www.blackdiamondcutters.com.au 35/04. SembCorp Engineers has clinched the final civil works contract for the Circle Line with the lowest bid of SGD335.4 million. The scope of work covers the construction of tunnels and four new stations at West Coast, Pasir Panjang, Alexandra and Telok Blangah as well as HarbourFront station fit out works. West Coast station has been earmarked as a future station as the area around it is not fully developed. Only structural provisions will be made at this station to facilitate future construction. The first stage of the line was supposed to be ready by 2007, but is likely to be delayed for at least a year because of the tragic collapse at the Nicoll Highway stretch of tunnels in April. Visit www.lta.gov.sg and www.sembcorpenc.com 42/04.The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the civil works contract 901 for the Circle Line (CCL) to Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure. The contract is valued at SGD348.4 million. Contract 901 is for the construction and completion of the Marina Bay station and tunnels. The scope of the contract also includes addition and alteration works to the existing North South Line (NSL) at Marina Bay station, diversions as well as demolition of an underpass. Visit www.hlsgroup.com.sg 10/08.The LTA also awarded contract 830A for the electrical and mechanical systems for the CCL to the consortium of Alstom Transport and Singapore Technologies Electronics. The contract is valued at approximately SGD106 million. Contract 830A covers the design, supply, delivery to site, installation, testing and commissioning of major electrical and mechanical systems, such as signalling system, platform screen doors, communications system, integrated supervisory control system, power supply system (high tension and traction power), trackworks and travel information system. Visit www.transport.alstom.com and www.stengg.com 10/08.

  Two large tunnels at depths of 20 m to 50 m. Value $5.2 billion. October 1998.    Concept is to use link sewers to intercept flows from existing gravity sewers upstream of the existing pumping stations and channel them by gravity through deep tunnels to centralised STWs at the south coast and thence to discharge via deep sea outfalls. With up to 45 m water pressure, tunnels will be driven by EPB or slurry TBM with sealed, bolted, grouted precast concrete segmental lining. Final lining will be cast-in-place concrete with corrosion-resistant membrane.   North tunnel from Changi East to Kranji comprises five contracts. T-01 is for 5.9 km of 6.0 m i.d. tunnel with 5 shafts; T-02 is for 7.7 km of 6.0 m with 7 shafts and an odour control facility (OCF); T-03 for 5.2 km of 6.0 m with 10 shafts, 3 ODFs, and a 250 m lateral connector; T-04 is for 7.2 km of 4.3 m i.d. with 9 shafts, 2 ODFs, and an 800 m lateral connector; T-05 is for 12.5 km of 3.6 m i.d. with 11 shafts and one ODF. Eastern two-thirds of the North tunnel is in Old Alluvium, a competent tunnelling medium. Western one-third in granite.   Spur tunnel T-06 connecting Tanglin and Holland Road areas comprises 9.7 km of 3.3 m i.d. tunnel with 8 shafts. Alignment is in fractured sedimentary rock, dense soil and faulted ground requiring shielded TBM with hard and soft rock capability.   Tendering process complete and award imminent. Visit www.gov.sg/gitis/ for full information about tendering contractors and amounts. October 1999.   Design and construct contract for T-02 Bedok tunnel awarded to Penta-Ocean Construction Co. Ltd value S$75.6 bn plus Y1.3 trillion. Design and construct contract for T-05 Kranji tunnel awarded to jv of Philipp Holzmann/Sembcorp value S$139.5 bn. Visit www.hlzm.de January 2000.   Contract T-04 for the Ang Mo Kio tunnel of the Singapore Deep Tunnel Sewerage System has been awarded to Samsung Corporation of 83 Clemenceau Avenue, #09-01 UE Square, Singapore 239920 in the value of $45 million by the Ministry of the Environment, Sewerage Dept, tel +65 731 9591. Source www.gov.sg/gitis/ March 2000. Remaining contract awards as follows: T-01, Changi tunnel value $47.4 million to jv of WohHup and Shanghai Tunnel Engineering; T-03 Paya Lebar tunnel value $40.5 million to jv of Kumagai Gumi and Sembcorp; T-05 Kranji tunnel value $83 million to jv of Sembcorp and Philipp Holzmann. All contracts include shafts. Contract for T-06 tunnel between Tanglin and Holland Road awaiting award. Visit www.gov.sg/gitis/ for more information. May 2000. T-06 contract for 9.6 km x 3.3 m-diameter section between Tanglin and Holland Road value $60 million awarded to Zueblin Queensway who will use two Herrenknecht TBMs for completion May, 2004. On the other five contracts the shafts are under construction at 1.8 m and 3.0 m diameter for access and 10 m to maximum 16 m for working, with depths of 20 - 50 m. First TBM arrives December, 2000 to start early 2001. T-01 will use Herrenknecht TBM; T-02 NKK TBM; T-03 Mitsubishi TBM; T-04 Mitsubishi TBM; and T-05 two Herrenknecht TBMs. Visit www.herrenknecht.com and look out for www.dtss.gov.sg under construction. Sept 2000.  Braddle Road in Singapore is reported as having been lowered by a few centimetres. The event occurred shortly after the drilling of a probe hole. Contractors are working in the vicinity on contract T03 of the deep sewer scheme. Their TBM was awaiting an unsealed launch from the adjacent shaft, when sand and water entered the chamber. Local correspondents have noted the spatial juxtapositioning of the three events. Visit www.lta.gov.sg 19/01.Invitation to tender, deadline 16th September, 2005 for civil engineering for River Valley Link Sewers Contract 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System. The tender is for the laying of 3 km of reinforced concrete sewer pipes of 1,800 mm and 2,100 mm diameter by pipejacking/microtunnelling method. The contract, when awarded, will have a period of 30 months. Visit www.gebiz.gov.sg, click on Tender Notice and enter PUB000ETT05000138 as ITT No. or contact Public Utilities Board, Singapore, tel. +65 67319567, fax +65 67319699 or e-mail cheng_lay_beng@pub.gov.sg 35/05.