River Trave tunnel 900 m-long at cost of DM 300 million to be driven by jv of Hochtief and Bilfinger & Berger for commissioning 2005. 30-year concession. February 1999.   Toll tunnel 1 km-long under River Trave awarded to jv of Hochtief and Bilfinger & Berger value $154 million. Land acquisition survey completed. Construction will commence in 2001 and last four years. October 1999.   $160 million finance for Herren tunnel will be on BOT basis. It becomes the first toll route in Germany, with a 30 years handover. Federal government is contributing more than half of the cost as the difference between that of bridge and tunnel. October 1999.Herrentunnel Lubeck GmbH has been formed by Hochtief and Bilfinger & Berger to plan, construct, finance and operate the twin-tube, 11.5 m o.d., 10.5 m i.d., 1.04 km-long tunnel which will be 9.5 m below the riverbed. A shield will be used for 780 m and the remaining 260 m will be cut-and-cover, with 600 m of ramps. There will be two crosspassages for emergency use. Construction to commence Spring, 2001 for opening 2005. Visit www.bilfingerberger.de Sept 2000.   Schleswig Holstein regional government has approved 1 km-long, twin-tube Herren tunnel for Lubeck municipality for construction start in 2002 by Hochtief/Bilfinger & Berger subsidiary. Visit www.hochtief.de 14/01.  Preparatory works of the Herren tunnel under river Trave in Lübeck started in October, 2001. The tunnel has two 750 m tubes connected by two cross passages. It will be built under DBFO by a joint company of Hochtief and Bilfinger+Berger. Tunnelling to start at summer 2002 using a overhauled Herrenknecht hydroshield machine used to bore a tunnel under the Weser river in Bremen. Visit www.herrentunnel.de 05/02.

  Feasibility study for 7.3 km metro from SW Budapest to main railway station on Pest side of river by Symonds Travers Morgan and Systra. Completion envisaged for 2003. Earlier contract for twin-tube 5.4 km section with 7 stations was bid in March, 1993. August 1997. Design by Hungarian consultants with Mott MacDonald assistance prepared railway authorisation design documentation for 7.4 km shield-driven system from Kelenfoldi to Keleti with eight intermediate stations in boxes at depths of 15 - 32 m with exception of Kelenfoldi which is beneath mainline tracks in a built-up area close to the Danube and will have to be tunnelled. Nov 1998.   Possible further extensions to the west from Kelenfoldi to Budaorsi and to the east from Keleti to Ujpalota. Also South Buda branch line is a possibility from Bocskai to Budafok Varoshaz. Sept 1999. www.metro4.hu   Now known as line 4 and will have 10 stations between Kelenfold and Keleti railway stations with possible extensions to Budaorsi to the west and Ujpalota to the east. There is also a possibility of a South Buda branch line from Bocskai ut to Budafok Varoshaz ter. New line 4 connection across Danube will relieve congestion taking 421,000 passengers/day by proposed opening in 2003. Tram service that currently overloads Szabadsag bridge can be discontinued and 11 bus routes altered to connect with new metro stations. Tunnels to be shield driven and stations will be in boxes apart from Kelenfoldi pu and the stations each side of the river. Visit www.metro4.hu/bejelent.en2.html for an English language description. Also www.mottmac.com/markets/transport/tunnels will give some background information. Sept 1999.  Tenders in preparation by DBR for 7.5 km-long line 4 with 10 stations, some up to 32 m-deep. EPB required on Pest side of river and slurry shield on Buda side. Construction period 2002-2007. Visit www.metro4.hu 35/01.  Budapest City Council and the central government reached an agreement on financing the €802 million construction of the first phase of the fourth metro line. The government will finance 70% and the city 30%. The 7.3 km first phase will also include the construction of 10 stops. Work will begin in the second half of 2004. It will be open to traffic in 2007-2008. The government will decide about building the second phase, 3.1 km in length with four stops, in September 2004 or by June 2005 at the latest. The full project will create a 10.4 km metro track, running from Kelenföldi in District 11 to Keleti in District 7. The first of 29 calls for tenders will be published this fall. The European Investment Bank (EIB) agreed in December 2002 to provide an €875 million 25-year loan to finance 75% of the whole 10.4 km project which is estimated to cost €1.16 billion. Visit www.metro4.hu 23/03.Periodic information notice for design and construction of running tunnels and associated structures as part of stage 1, contract 02 of Line 4. The assigment includes preliminary utility relocation; the start shaft; the reception box; a 30 m-deep station box structure and three adjacent 45 m-long 65 sq m cross section tunnels, to be built using the shotcrete lining method, required for access to construct a cross-over to allow for side reverse of trains; a 2 x 120 m-long tunnel cross-over for this reverse; a 7.8 m-inner diameter ventilation shaft; thirteen 5.2 m-diameter connecting tunnels, 15 m long each; a 42 m-deep 130 sq m ventilation shaft; 2 x 3,160 m of 5.2 m-inner diameter running tunnels on the Buda side to be constructed in hard, water-resistant clay and clayey marls; 2 x 2,530 m of 5.2 m-diameter running tunnels on the Pest side and under the Danube to be constructed in inhomogeneous clay, silt and sand gravel. Work to start in October 2005 for completion in December 2008. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=195149-2004, OJ S 226, or contact BKV, Budapest, fax +36 13221440 or 12676217. E-mail info@metro4.hu 49/04.Negotiated procedure, deadline 1st March, 2005 for design and construction of running tunnels and associated structures, as part of Stage I Contract 02 of Line 4 in Budapest. This contract includes public utility relocation works; the shield start shaft; the shield reception box; a 30 m-deep station box structure and three adjacent 45 m-long 65 sq m cross section tunnels and two rows of columns, with shotcrete lining required for access to construct a cross-over for a lateral reversing structure; a 2 x 120 m-long tunnel cross-over (for the reversing structure); a 7.8 m ID ventilation shaft; thirteen 5.2 m-diameter, 15 m-long connecting tunnels; a 42 m-deep 130 sq m ventilation shaft; 2 x 3,160 m-long 5.2 m ID tunnels on the Buda side to be constructed in hard, water resistant clay; 2 x 2,530 m-long 5.2 m ID tunnels to be constructed in unhomogeneous clay, silt and sand gravel on the Pest side and under the Danube and other minor works. The works will take place between Kelenfold main line station in south west Buda and Keleti main line station in the north east of Pest, crossing the Danube between St. Gellert ter and Fovam ter immediately south of Szabadsag bridge. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=215033-2004, OJ S 249, or contact BKV, Budapest, fax +36 13221440 or 12676217. E-mail info@metro4.hu. To view the tender in English, visit www.metro4.hu/content.php?tmp=tend&tid=16 02/05.Deadline extension to 22nd March, 2005 for design and construction of running tunnels and associated structures, as part of Stage I Contract 02 of Line 4 in Budapest. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=040812-2005, OJ S 42, or contact BKV, Budapest, fax +36 13221440 or 12676217. E-mail info@metro4.hu. Click hu/11 for details. 10/05.Restricted call for bids, deadline 4th July, 2005 for construction of three stations, as part of metro line 4 in Budapest. These stations are Tetenyi ut, Bocskai ut and Moricz Zsigmund korter. All are in Buda. Tetenyi ut station box is approximately 85 m long, 26 m wide and 22 m deep. Bocskai ut station box is approx. 130 m long, 24 m wide and 22 m deep. Moricz Zsigmund korter station box is approx. 105 m long, 26 m wide and 30 m deep. Tetenyi ut station box is to be constructed in a open area while the other two boxes are to be constructed in busy main roads along which tram and buses travel. Construction of the stations will be using diaphragm wall techniques (steel sheet piling not allowed). Contract award is anticipated in the first quarter of 2006, with construction start anticipated shortly after and end of construction in the second quarter of 2008. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=105686-2005, OJ S 106, or contact BKV, Budapest, fax +36 13221440 or 12676217. E-mail info@metro4.hu 24/05.The five bidders for contract 02 of line 4 of the Budapest metro are Bamco consortium led by Vinci and including Strabag and Hí­dépí­to Rt.; BPV-Metro 4 consortium headed by Bilfinger Berger, including Porr and Vegyépszer Rt.; Metro 4 consortium led by Hochtief with Bouygues as partner; Taisei; and ZOSw Metro-4 consortium headed by Ed. Züblin, with Obayashi and Swietelsky. It is expected that the award announcement for contract 02 will be made in January 2006. Click hu/11 for details of contract 02. Visit www.metro4.hu 27/05.Negotiated procedure, deadline 20th September, 2005 for construction of Fovam ter and Kalvin ter station structures, as part of Line 4. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=146036-2005, OJ S 146, or contact BKV, Budapest, fax +36 13221440 or 14113051. E-mail info@metro4.hu. 33-34/05.A consortium including Mott MacDonald working with local consultants Fomterv and Uvaterv has secured a contract to prepare tender documentation for ten major packages related to the development of the new line 4. Mott MacDonald's role involves preparing tender documents for the proposed design and build contracts as well as updating of the 1998 design to include alignment improvements and further architectural development. In addition, Mott MacDonald is providing specialist input on tunnelling methods and will carry out an analysis of the ventilation system design including modelling using its own in-house programmes and proprietary computational fluid dynamics software. Mott MacDonald initially worked with Fomterv and Uvaterv in 1998 on the preliminary design for line 4 and helped achieve approval for the metro from the Hungarian Railway Authority.The 7.3 km first phase of the underground system will include ten stations and connect with the existing metro lines 2 and 3 and with the main line railway network at Kelenfold and Keleti. The tunnels are likely to be constructed using state-of-the-art boring machines together with the latest techniques in sprayed concrete technology. One of the key challenges will entail steering the line around the historic thermal waters located below and adjacent to the Danube. Opening of the new line is scheduled for 2010 and it is anticipated that the system will be extended at a later stage. Visit www.metro4.hu, www.mottmac.com, www.fomterv.hu and www.uvaterv.hu 46/05.The Bamco consortium led by Vinci Construction Grand Projets and including Strabag, Strabag International, Strabag Rt. and local firm Hí­dépí­to Rt. has won the tender to build a 2 x 7.3 km tunnel (contract 02), as part of Line 4 of the Budapest metro. The contract is worth EUR207,415,841. Visit www.metro4.hu and www.vinci-construction.com 03/06.

Restricted tendering for construction of 32 km-long tunnel, deadline 20th January, 2000. Fax Landsvirkjun +354 151 59006 for details. January 2000.   Planned installed capacity of power station will be 210 MW. A 43 sq km reservoir will be formed at Eyjabakkar connected to a 31.2 km-long headrace tunnel, of which 28 km will be TBM bored at 5.0 – 5.5 m-diameter. This will feed three Pelton vertically-mounted turbines in an underground powerhouse via a 450 m steel-cased penstock shaft. The drill/blast sections of the headrace tunnel will be 27 sq m cross-section. A 1 km tailrace tunnel will discharge the water into the River Jokulsa. A 700 m-long powerhouse access tunnel will house a switchgear cavern and control station. The first 155 m of this tunnel was developed by drill/blast some ten years ago. TBM excavation will produce 1.5 m cu m of spoil and blasting will yield another 400,000 cu m. Some 50,000 cu m of concrete and injection aggregates will be required. Fljotsdalur is needed to power a proposed aluminium smelter at Reydarfjordur scheduled to go onstream at end-2003, so underground construction will have to restart by mid-2000. Estimated project cost $315 million. For a complete history and background to this scheme visit www.lv.is February 2000. Project abandonment reported at www.lv.is July 2000.

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has signed a MoU with the government of Uttaranchal for the initial survey and investigation for the 3 x 120 MW Tapovan Vishnugad hydro scheme on river Dhauliganga. It is a tributary to river Alakananda which itself is a tributary to river Ganga. A 11,646 m-long headrace tunnel will be built, standard horse shoe-shaped cross section with 4.8 m diameter. The project area is located in the central Himalayan crystalline group of rocks. The rock comprises metamorphic rocks, mostly granetiferous augen gneiss, schist, quartzites with intermittent bands of schist and basic rocks. It is expected the headrace tunnel will mainly encounter this type of rocks. Presence of hot water springs of nearly 80-100°C in nearby areas and in the drilling activities along the Main Central Thrust (MCT) areas. Not much exploration drilling is possible along the tunnel alignment which will be covered with a 1 to 1.5 km overburden. The horizontal cover is also very thick. The tunnel alignment is covered with snow and thick forest areas of rugged topography. The zone may not be suitable for geophysical exploration due to the difficult topographic condition. Vertical drilling may result unnecessary, long and difficult. The planned method of construction is drill/blast with rockbolts, shotcrete, wiremesh and steel arches (I and H sections) as support. Final concrete lining. Date to invite tenders not decided yet. Detailed survey and investigation started as of 1st January, 2003. Estimated cost Rs5.55 billion (value 1992) to be revaluated 9.5% approximately per year. Self financing by NTPC for survey and investigation. More from debadatta_ray@yahoo.com and abirkar@rediffmail.com 02/03.Invitation for bids, deadline 17th June, 2005 for construction of a headrace tunnel for the 4 x 150 MW Loharinag Pala hydroelectric power project on the river Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi district, State of Uttaranchal. The scope of work includes construction of an approx. 13 km-long, 6 m-finished diameter modified horseshoe-shaped, concrete lined headrace tunnel, including three intermediate 6 m-diameter D-shaped adits. Contact National Thermal Power Corporation, Sr. Manager (CS-Hydro), Sixth Floor, Engineering Office Complex, Plot A-8A, Sector-24, Noida 201301, Uttar Pradesh, India. Tel. +91 1202596669 or 1202596620, fax +91 1202410215 or 1202410011. Visit www.ntpctender.com/nit/listJobs.asp?nitId=2098 17/05.The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has awarded a Rs3.18 billion headrace tunnel contract for the Loharinag Pala hydroelectric power project to Patel Engineering. The 600 MW Loharinag Pala project is a run-of-river scheme situated on the river Bhagirathi in the Uttarkashi district of Uttaranchal. Patel Engineering's contract involves construction of a 6 m-diameter 13 km-long horseshoe shaped concrete lined headrace tunnel on the right bank of the Bhagirathi. The tunnel will be executed through three access adits using the drill-and-blast method. The Loharinag Pala project is expected to be completed in 38 months. Visit www.patelengineering.com 35/06.Larsen & Toubro, in joint venture with Alpine Mayreder, has bagged an order valued at Rs4.56 billion from NTPC for the execution of 4 x 130 MW Tapovan Vishnugad hydropower project in Uttaranchal. The package includes construction of a concrete lined headrace tunnel of approx. 11.3 km and 5.6 m finished diameter, using partly a TBM, and partly a roadheader and drilling and blasting. The project is located in district Chamoli on the Dhauliganga river, a major tributary of Alaknanda. Visit www.lntecc.com and www.alpine.at 50/06.Invitation for prequalification, deadline 28th June, 2007 for EPC turnkey package for construction of the 444 MW Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydro electric project. Civil works include a 65 m-high gravity concrete dam; a 10 m-diameter diversion and spill tunnel; a 12 m-diameter spill tunnel, intake structures followed by three desilting chambers, each 350 m long, 16 m wide and 20.6 m high; a 13.4 km-long 8.8 m-diameter horseshoe-shaped headrace tunnel; a 130 m-high, 22 m-diameter surge shaft; a 351 m-long, 5.2 m-diameter pressure shaft; an underground power house for four 111 MW generating units; an underground transformer cavern to accommodate 13 transformers and switchgear; a 120 m-long x 27 m-high underground downstream surge tank; a 3.07 km-long, 8.8 m-diameter horseshoe-shaped tailrace tunnel; a cofferdam, etc. The invitation for prequalification is also for hydro-mechanical works, electro-mechanical works and assistance in the successful operation of the plant for six months. Contact Tehri Hydro Development Corporation, Executive Director, Ganga Bhawan, Bypass Road, Pragatipuram, Rishikesh-249 201 Uttarakhand. Tel. +91 1352430721, fax +91 1352438379, e-mail bansallk_2004@yahoo.com.sg. Visit http://thdc.nic.in 16/07.National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) has awarded Patel Engineering the construction contract for key civil works on the 520 MW Tapovan Vishnugad hydropower project. The value of the contract is INR4.3 billion, and the contract period is 48 months. The scope of the work includes construction of the surge shaft, pressure shaft, penstock, tailrace tunnel, switchyards and the power house. The plant will house four 130 MW units. The headrace tunnel was awarded last year to Larsen & Toubro and Alpine Mayreder. Click in/35. Visit www.patelengineering.com 52/07-01/08.Invitation for prequalification, deadline 26th February, 2008 for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) package for civil works and hydromechanical equipment works for the Vishnugad Pipalkoti hydroelectric project. Civil works include a 65 m-high gravity concrete dam; a 10 m-diameter diversion and spill tunnel; a 12 m-diameter spill tunnel; an intake structure followed by three desilting chambers (each 350 m long x 16 m wide x 20.6 m high); a 13.4 km-long x 8.8 m-diameter horse shoe-shaped headrace tunnel; a 130 m-high x 22 m-diameter surge shaft; a 351 m-long x 5.2 m-diameter pressure shaft; an underground power house for four vertical Francis turbine generating each 111 MW; an underground transformer cavern; a 120 m-long x 12 m-wide x 27 m-high underground surge tank; a 3.07 km-long x 8.8 m-diameter horse shoe-shaped tailrace tunnel, a cofferdam, etc. This is a re-bid. Contact Tehri Hydro Development Corporation, Ganga Bhawan, Bypass Road, Pragatipuram, Rishikesh 249201, Uttarakhand. Tel. +91 1352430721, fax +91 1352438379, e-mail thdccontract_vphep@yahoo.co.in or visit http://thdc.gov.in/English/Scripts/tender_link_link.aspx?vid=281 03/08.

  Preliminary design of the priority lines completed in 1998. Total length of LRT network 123 km, 18 km underground and 17 km elevated. 68 stations planned, 23 of which are underground and 11 elevated. Priority is 12.5 km-long North-South line from Kaveh to Soffeh passing under the Zayandeh Rud river at city centre, which is in tunnel for most of its length. Both cut & cover and boring under consideration. Internal diameters of bored tunnel 8.0 m and 5.8 m respectively for twin track and single track. More from euro@isfahan.org.ir 17/01. Pre-feasibility studies completed for 4.7 km tunnel to be excavated by 9 m-diameter EPB in soft ground comprising clay and saturated sand and gravel layers. Proposals invited for acquisition of used TBM or for JV with external TBM contractor. Contact Esfahan LRT Project Management, khashayar@parsiannet.com 40/01.The 12.5 km north-south line A from Kaveh to Soffeh includes 15 stations. The project requires 5.7 m-high, 8 m-wide double-track cut-and-cover tunnels, two 5 km single-track bored tunnels and 14 m-wide 1,500 sq m stations. Phase one from Kaveh to Imam Hossein (4.7 km) will be finished in 2005 and phase two from Imam Hossein to Soffeh (7.8 km) is scheduled for completion in 2007. The Kaveh depot-Shohada section (3 km as part of phase 1) is under construction since June 2001 using the cut-and-cover method. A second section from Shohada to Azadi (end of phase 1 plus part of phase 2), 6 m inner diameter, is under preliminary design, for construction with a 6.7 m EPB shield ordered to Herrenknecht due to be delivered in September 2003 for tunnelling start one month later. The third section from Azadi to Soffeh will also be built in cut-and-cover. Financing by the government of Iran (50%) and the city of Esfahan (50%). More from Mr. Khashayar Bagherinia, Technical Engineering Deputy of Esfahan Metro, e-mail kh_bagherinia@yahoo.com. Visit www.esfahanmetro.org 37/02.Two revamped Herrenknecht EPB shields, OD 6,890 mm and ID 6 m, to arrive in Esfahan in December 2003 for the first machine and in January or February 2004 for the second to drive from April or May 2004 the 2 x 5 km Shohada-Azadi section as part of the 12.5 km north-south line. It is a double-tube single-track tunnel that will cross the Zayandeh Rud river. Logistics equipment to be supplied by Maschinen- und Stahlbau Dresden (MSD) and segment moulds by CBE of France. Contractor is Iranian company Alamot. Cost around $33 million. Visit www.herrenknecht.com, www.msd-dresden.de and www.cbe-tunnels.comIranian contractor Daghigh is building since June 2001 a 3 km-long, 5.7 m-high, 8 m-wide double-track single-tube tunnel box between Kaveh depot and Shohada as part of phase 1. Completion is expected in December 2003. Third section from Azadi to Soffeh is a horse shoe-shaped tunnel, also built by Alamot, using three Paurat roadheaders. Shaft construction started in May 2003 and construction will be finished in May 2005. Visit www.wirth-europe.de/roadheaders/paurat.htm. More from Mr. Khashayar Bagherinia, Technical Engineer and Deputy of Esfahan Metro, e-mail kh_bagherinia@yahoo.com. Visit www.esfahanmetro.org 44/03.

Announcement of intent to design ring road with River Shannon crossing for NRA, Dublin, fax +353 166 80009. Visit www.nra.ie 26/01.620 m-long immersed tube across River Shannon will be part of $285 million design-build-operate tender for 10 km-long Limerick southern ring road expected end-2001, for construction start 2003. Visit www.cowi.dk 39/01.Preinformation notice for PPR contract for the design, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of approximately 10 km of dual carriageway forming part of a southern bypass to Limerick, including a 900 m immersed tube tunnel to cross the River Shannon. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=058342-2004, OJ S 69, or contact National Roads Authority, Dublin, fax +353 16680009 or 14122500. E-mail gmurphy@nra.ir or lerato.mulvaney@kpmg.ie. Read E-News Weekly 48/2003. 16/04.Negotiated procedure, 3rd June, 2004 for design, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of part of the southern bypass of Limerick extending from Rossbrien to the existing N18 near Cratloe Castle in County Clare. The project includes a 900 m immersed tube tunnel to cross the River Shannon. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=061769-2004, OJ S 73, or contact National Roads Authority, Dublin, fax +353 16680009 or 14122500. E-mail gmurphy@nra.ir or lerato.mulvaney@kpmg.ie. Read E-News Weekly 48/2003. 17/04.Preinformation notice for geotechnical ground investigation for the Limerick immersed tunnel to be developed as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=123089-2004, OJ S 143, or contact Limerick County Council, Limerick, fax +353 61496001. E-mail secretar@limerickcoco.ie or info@midwestroads.ie. Subscribe to E-News Weekly 7/2004 & 48/2003. 33-34/04.Four consortia have been approved for the tender stage for the DBFO (Design, Build, Finance & Operate) N7 Limerick southern ring road, Phase 2, including approx. 10 km of standard dual carriageway, 4 km of single carriageway and a 900 m tunnel under the River Shannon. They are Sli Nua (Laing O'Rourke Civil Engineering, Laing Roads, Hochtief Developments, Barclays European Infrastructure, Intertoll and Halcrow); Direct Route (Kellogg Brown & Root, Strabag, John Sisk & Son, Lagan Holdings and Roadbridge); Shannon Link (HBG Ascon, PJ Hegarty & Sons, NTR plc, Vinci Concessions and Vinci S.A.); and CLCBL, or Cummann Lusis Chuar Bhothair Luimnigh (Bouygues TP, DTP Terrassement and Egis Projects). The tender return date is 15th July, 2005.High-Point Rendel has been appointed lead design consultant to prepare a tender design for the CLCBL consortium. High-Point Rendel will provide consultancy services for a crossing of the River Shannon and will consider a number of alternatives including an immersed tube tunnel and access ramps, a high bridge and a low-level opening bridge. The construction JV comprises Bouygues TP, DTP Terrassement and Coffey. Jan De Nul, Scetauroute, Tunnel Engineering Consultants, Nicholas O'Dwyer & Partners, Scaldis and Volker Stevin are involved as subcontractors or consultants for the construction JV. Click ie/18. Visit www.hprendel.com 20/05.The National Roads Authority (NRA) has named the Direct Route consortium as the most economically advantageous tender for the private-public partnership (PPP) project under the Shannon river. The consortium includes Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR), the construction arm of US firm Halliburton, Strabag, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, Lagan Holdings Ltd and Roadbridge Ltd. The NRA will now proceed with discussions with Direct Route with a view to appointing it as the provisional preferred tenderer. If such discussions prove successful, that will potentially lead to a contract announcement for the project in spring 2006. The project includes a EUR100 million 900 m-long immersed tunnel under the Shannon. Read E-News Weekly 7/2004. Visit www.nra.ie 42/05.The National Roads Authority chose the Direct Route consortium, comprising Lagan, Roadbridge, John Sisk and Strabag, for the proposed Shannon tunnel. The consortium is expected to sign the formal contract in September, with work on the private-public partnership (PPP) project to begin shortly afterwards. The project is expected to be completed within four years. The Shannon tunnel will be the second only under-river tunnel in Ireland after the Jack Lynch tunnel in Cork. Costing an estimated EUR380 million, the project will involve the construction of a 900 m-long tunnel under the River Shannon at Limerick. Click ie/18. Visit www.nra.ie 14/06.Together with its Irish joint venture partner Fehily Timoney, Ramboll has won the assignment as independent consultant to the new tunnel project beneath the River Shannon near Limerick. The assignment involves a completely independent design check of the tunnel, which is an immersed tunnel. The assignment comprises the approx. 1 km tunnel itself, as well as the facilities where the tunnel makes landfall. The assignment is expected to have duration of two and a half years. Visit www.ramboll.dk and www.fehilytimoney.ie 35/06.

Prequalification for construction of section of Asti-Cuneo motorway with 800 m-long twin-tube tunnel. Contact ANAS, fax +39 0644 56224. Visit www.enteanas.it 39/01.Work has started on several sections of the Asti-Cuneo motorway while others, now in the planning phase, have been approved. Between Consovero di Margarita and Cuneo (subsections 1.3 to 1.6), Lot 1.5 includes two artificial tunnels (932 and 119 m). Between Guarene and Roddi (subsection 2.5), a 1 km twin tunnel is planned under river Tanaro. Between Roddi and diga Enel (subsection 2.6), the 3,538 m Verduno tunnel will be driven, a twin tube with 2,984 m bored plus 495 m in cut-and-cover on the Cuneo side and 59 m on the Asti side. Each tube will feature two 3.75 m-wide lanes, and a safety lane of 3 m. Visit www.provincia.cuneo.it and www.enteanas.it 11/02.Autostrada Asti-Cuneo - including Salt, Grassetto Lavori and Itinera - won the concession contract for the Asti-Cuneo motorway A33. These three companies hold 65% of the new concession company while ANAS, the public road administration, holds 35%. The 90 km Asti-Cuneo motorway has been divided into 16 subsections, worth EUR1.6 billion. ANAS has financed seven of these subsections, either already opened or nearing end. The new concessionaire will finance, build and operate the remaining nine subsections. The subsections to be constructed by the new concessionaire are: 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 on section 1 and 2.5, 2.6, 2.1A, 2.1B and 2.1.Dir on section 2. The subsections financed by ANAS are: 1.1 and 1.2 (both opened in July 2005) on section 1 and 2.2, 2.3A, 2.4, 2.7 and 2.8 on section 2 (all under construction). The concession has not taken effect yet, the contract has still to be signed. Construction of the tunnels commissioned to the concessionaire has not commenced. The subsections financed by ANAS will be transferred to the new concesionaire once their construction is finished.The project includes several tunnels: Sant'Albano (2 x 180 m) and Mercatale (2 x 621 m), both on subsection 1.5 (Cuneo slip road), Alba (3,527 m / 3,356 m) on subsection 2.5 Guarene-Roddi and Verduno (4,023 m / 4,119 m) on subsection 2.6 Roddi-Diga Enel. The Roreto tunnel (800 m / 650 m) is under construction on subsection 2.8 Cherasco-Marene toll plaza on the A6, financed by ANAS. All are mined tunnels except the cut-and-cover Sant'Albano tunnel. The Alba tunnel will cross river Tanaro.The mined length of the Roreto tunnel spans 645 m for each bore. Progress on the first tube has reached 77% (500 m), the second is 48% complete (310 m). The cut-and-cover part is finished. The contractor is CMB (Cooperativa Muratori e Braccianti di Carpi). Visit www.cmbcarpi.itFor tunnelling, two Hitachi ZAXIS 350 excavators are used. The face is supported with 60 18 m-long glass fibre bolts, injected at low pressure with expansive grout, and umbrella vaults formed by 41 FE510 steel pipes, 14 m long, installed around the crown. The contour is supported with 55 18 m-long glass fibre bolts, injected with low pressure expansive grout. The wall base is supported with 10 14 m-long glass fibre bolts, injected with low pressure expansive grout. Six forepoles are implemented at the face as excavation progresses (length of 30 m) with overlap of 10-20 m minimum. Steel arches (type 2IPN) are subsequently installed every metre, then wire mesh, steel fibre-reinforced shotcrete around the contour (thickness 25 cm) and at the face (thickness 10 cm). The minimum dosage is 30 kg/cu m. The suppliers are Ellas Geotecnica for the expansive grouts and glass fibre bolts at the face, Calcestruzzi (Italcementi Group) for the concrete and shotcrete, Metallegno for the steel arches, wire mesh and steel profiles in general and Maccaferri for the steel fibres to reinforce the shotcrete. Visit www.hcme.com, www.calcestruzzi.it, www.metallegno.com, www.maccaferri.com and www.provincia.cuneo.it/llpp/grandi_infrastrutture/autostrade.jsp 52/05-01/06.

  Restricted invitation to tender for construction of 4 km-long railway line with 2 km tunnel. Deadline 28th February, 2000. Contact Ferrovie Nord, Milan, fax +39 02 869 2838. January 2000.  Restricted tendering, deadline 1st March, 2002 for the construction of two shield-driven tunnels, 3.7 km-long, under river Olona, four connecting tunnels to be bored using traditional methods, and eight shafts (launch and exit shafts, ventilation, emergency exit, etc.). Budget of €46.6 million. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/ojs/en/frame.htm, OJ S 16, document 11783-2002 or contact Ferrovie Nord Milano, Milan, fax +39 028691231. 05/02.Strabag, Torno Internazionale, Cogeis and Romagnoli secured a EUR36.7 million contract from Ferrovie Nord Milano (FNM) to sink underground the tracks in Castellanza, including 2 x 1,855 m of bored tunnel and 2 x 1.9 km in cut-and-cover. The bored tunnel will be dug using a revamped 8.15 m-diameter Wirth EPB TBM, previously used on Contract 240 of the Channel tunnel rail link in London. The TBM length without back-up is 12 m (110 m with it). The cutterhead installed power is 2,800 kW. The TBM transformer rating is 2 x 1,800 kVA. The machine is equipped with 29 thrust cylinders, each with a force of 2,215 kN at 360 bar, and a total thrust of 64,235 kN. The cutterhead has 16 cutters, 21 rippers, 102 scrapers and 20 centre cutting tools supplied by TunnelTec. Mucking-out with conveyor belt. Finished diameter will be 7.15 m. Lining with 30 cm-thick concrete segments, eight pieces plus the key per ring. The launch shaft is under construction. Also four cross passages between both tubes. Excavation start on 1st July, 2005 for completion in March 2007. Visit www.wirth-europe.de, www.strabag.at, www.torno.com, www.cogeis.it and www.romagnoli.net 09/05.

International invitation to tender, deadline 13th May, 2008 for construction of the Durango-Mazatlí¡n highway from Km 111+000 to Km 156+956. This section includes 28 tunnels and 14 bridges. It will take 1,292 days, which means the section must be completed in 2011. Work is programmed to commence on 26th June. The project is part of the national infrastructure plan to connect the country's Pacific coast to the Gulf of Mexico and also aims to position Mexico as a vital link for Asia-US trade by serving as a competitive option to the Panama Canal. The highway is expected to become Mexico's third most important continental entrance for Asian imports to the US, along with the Manzanillo and Lí¡zaro Cí¡rdenas ports, in western Colima and Michoací¡n states, respectively. The 1,250 km highway runs from Mazatlí¡n municipality in Sinaloa state, eastwards to the Durango state capital of the same name, crossing the Sierra Madre mountain range in western Mexico. Visit http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5016478 11/08.The Secretariat for communications and transport (SCT) has awarded three civil works contracts to complete the Durango-Mazatlí¡n highway. The three contracts have a value MXP8,721 million and the project has to be completed in early 2012. The highway is one of the biggest and costliest infrastructure project in the country because it crosses the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, which requires the construction of numerous tunnels and bridges. The Durango-Mazatlí¡n highway will connect the Pacific coast of Mexico with the centre and north of the country and then with the Gulf of Mexico. In all, the highway stretches for 230 kilometres and will have 63 tunnels, 115 structures and the Baluarte bridge, which will cross the Baluarte river at an height of 394 metres. The highway will link the major corridors in the north and centre of the country: Mazatlí¡n-Durango-Torreí³n-Saltillo-Monterrey-Matamoros and Mazatlí¡n-Durango-Zacatecas-San Luis Potosí­-Tampico. Visit www.sct.gob.mxA Mexican-Spanish consortium comprising Mexican firms Omega Corp and Concesiones Aldesem, and Spanish company Aldesa Construcciones won the first, MXP3,971 million contract, which includes the construction of 45.9 km of two-lane highway (12 m wide) from 111+000 to km 156+956 (from Las Adjuntas to Baluarte bridge), including 26 tunnels and 14 bridges. The entire section is situated in Durango state. Omega Corp. will sign the contract on 4th August. Work is scheduled to start on 12th August and is expected to take 3.5 years. Visit www.grupo-omega.com and www.aldesa.es 32-33/08.The second contract, from km 158+080 to km 168+400, has been awarded to a consortium of companies formed by Tradeco Operacií³n Internacional, Tradeco Industrial, Innovaciones Técnicas en Cimentacií³n, Marcadores de Pavimento and Condux. The works included in the contract are as follows: 10.3 kilometres of roadway, 15 tunnels and six bridges. All the works will be located in the state of Sinaloa. The contract is worth MXP2,560 million and has to be completed within 1,098 calendar days. Visit www.tradeco.com.mx 32-33/08.The third contract, from km 168+400 to km 186+300, involves the construction of 17.9 kilometres of road, 16 tunnels and 12 bridges. The contract has been scooped by FCC in joint venture with La Peninsular. The amount of the contract is MXP2,190 million, with a time frame of 1,183 calendar days to finish the job. Visit www.fcc.es 32-33/08.The communication and transport ministry (SCT) awarded this summer three contracts worth a total of MXP8.22 billion to complete the final section of the Durango-Mazatlí¡n highway. The first contract was awarded to a consortium led by Mexican construction firm Omega Corp. with a price tag of MXP3.97 billion. The second contract went to a consortium made up of Spain's FCC and Mexico's La Peninsular for MXP2.19 billion. The remaining contract was awarded to Mexico's Tradeco Industrial for MXP2.06 billion. The first stage of the highway includes a single carriageway, 12 m wide, and the second carriageway will be built in a second phase. The contracts involve only the first stage. Click mx/21.Given the geography of this mountainous area, the highway requires many tunnels and bridges. Altogether, 57 short single-tube tunnels will be built, representing a total length of 18.3 km. The only tunnel to exceed one kilometre in length is El Sinaloense (2,794 m). To see the list of the tunnels in each contract, click here. Once completed, travel time on the highway will drop from six hours to two and a half hours. 41/08.

Invitation for prequalification, deadline 20th June, 2008 for the main civil works of the 309 MW Upper Tamakoshi hydroelectric project (contract No. UTKHEP/03-2064/65) which consist of a 22.5 m-high and 60 m-long diversion dam; the Bhaise Khola intake structure including an approx. 60 m-long connecting shaft to the headrace tunnel; a 7,200 m-long low pressure headrace tunnel having a cross-section of 29 sq m; two construction adits (one at Bhaise and the other at the pressure shaft area); a 2,055 m-long pressure shaft and tunnel (unlined, concrete lined and steel lined); a 15 m-wide x 24 m-high x 113 m-long powerhouse cavern; a 13 m x 18 m x 112 m transformer cavern; a 2,500 m-long tailrace tunnel; various access and auxiliary tunnels; about 10 km connecting roads to the project's different work fronts; and maintenance of the 68 km Charikot-Dolakha-Singati-Lamabagar access road and upgrading if required. The project is located on the Tamakoshi River in Dolakha district in Janakpur zone in Central Development Region of Nepal. Contact Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Project director, Upper Tamakoshi hydroelectric project, Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited, Kamalpokhari, PO Box 26070, Kathmandu. Tel. +977 14421988, 14420295, fax +977 14412569, e-mail neautp@mos.com.np or visit www.nea.org.np/INVITATION_FOR_PREQUALIFICATION.pdf and www.nea.org.np/tender.php for documents.Visit the project's website at www.nea.org.np/utkhep 15/08.