US$650 million loan granted by BNP Paribas to Metro de Santiago for the new 33 km Line 4. Route alignment to run underground between Tobalaba and Grecia, at grade between Grecia and Gran Avenida, and elevated between Américo Vespucio and Puente Alto. Underground section to cost US$50-60 million. Construction to start in October, 2002. Opening second-half 2005. Visit www.metro-chile.cl or www.metrosantiago.cl 50/01. Basic engineering stage underway, with studies being carried out by the Systra-Cade Idepe (SCI) consortium. The line involves aboveground, underground and viaduct sections and 22 stations. Budget is divided up into US$509 million for civil works, US$214 million for systems and equipment and US$284 million for trains. Visit www.metrosantiago.cl and www.cadeidepe.cl 22/02.Bidding rules available until 19th May, 2003 to build Las Mercedes station and surrounding tunnel portions of line 4 under construction in Santiago's eastern and southern suburbs. Deadline to submit offers: 30th June, 2003. Cost is estimated at US$1.03 billion. Construction of the line began in July last year and is scheduled to end in the second half of 2005. The 33 km-long track will extend from Tobalaba station in Las Condes through 22 stations to the municipality of Puente Alto, on the southeast outskirts of the capital. Line 4 will have a complementary stretch, known as 4A, that will connect at the line's halfway point - Vicuna Mackenna station - and continue southwest to municipality La Cisterna. Visit www.metrosantiago.cl 21/03.OHL has bagged a €17 million contract to build a 1.2 km section of Line 4. This section is divided in two pieces, Plaza Egaí±a station and the south and north tunnels to be built on both sides of the station, at a depth of 17 m underneath Américo Vespucio Avenue. The works will require the removal of 112,580 m³ of spoil and the use of 35,000 m³ of concrete, 1,600 t of steel and 200,000 m² of wire mesh. Construction is to start this month to end in October 2005. €850 million will be invested in the 33 km-long new line 4. Visit www.ohl.es 44/03.