Chilean Government approval to Merval S.A. for construction of 5 km-long tunnel on alignment beneath existing track through Vina del Mar on the 43 km-long Valparaiso-Limache railway. One of the two existing tracks must be kept available for operation throughout the construction period, so TBM may be chosen rather than cut and cover because of space considerations. Details from ailiman@cuartaetapa.cl Sept 2000. Work to commence in May, 2002 including a 5.2 km tunnel between the Chorrillos station and the Capuchinos bridge. Cut-and-cover method with 18 m-deep diaphragm walls. The tunnel will lie 11 m below ground level. Cost of $300 million. Completion in September, 2004. 13/02. The US$16.8 million contract for the first section Capuchinos-Miramar (B) of the 5 km railway tunnel required for the regional metro line through downtown Vií±a del Mar, between Caleta Abarca and Chorrillos, has been signed. This section is 1.2 km in length from Caleta Abarca to Traslavií±a street. The contractor is Méndez Junior y Asociados. The 8 m-wide x 7.2 m-high double-track tunnel will be built in cut-and-cover between 18 m-deep diaphragm walls. Both tracks will be laid at a depth of 14 metres. The line will serve four underground stations in Miramar, Vií±a del Mar, Hospital and Chorrillos. Visit www.cuartaetapa.cl 52/02.Regional urban rail service Merval has awarded to OHL the civil works contract to build stretches D (Vií±a del Mar-Hospital) and E (Hospital-Chorrillos) of the 5 km tunnel portion of its US$300 million, stage 4 metro expansion and improvement project. Contract signing for the stretches is slated for this month, with preliminary works set to begin immediately. Mendes Junior previously won the contract for the tunnel's US$16.8 million, 2 km Capuchinos-Miramar (B) first stretch. The winner of the remaining Miramar-Vina stretch (C) should be announced this month. Stage 4 aims to improve services between Valparaiso, neighbouring city Vií±a del Mar, and the town of Limache in the interior. Work began in July 2002 and the line should enter operations in the second half of 2005. Visit www.cuartaetapa.cl 02/03.