Contract awarded to jv of Dragados and Ashtrom for 9.6 m-wide twin tubes, 1.7 km-long at the east side in hard dolomite using drill/blast and 3.3 km-long at the west through chalk, volcanic tuff and dolomite by roadheader. Initial support by resin bolts, arches and shotcrete and final lining reinforced concrete. Excavation to commence in 2000 for completion in 2005. Design consultants Intecsa, value $135 million. June 1999.Carmelton, the consortium that won the tender in 1998 to construct the Carmel tunnel project in Haifa, has subcontracted the building of the tunnel to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). The Carmel tunnel project involves the construction of two dual-lane tunnels of 5.5 km each under Mount Carmel, connecting the northern and southern arteries of Haifa. The contract is worth USD90 million. Read E-News Weekly 37/2006, 37/2003, 22/2003, 17/2003 & 14/2003. Visit www.ccecc.com.cn 43/06.