The owner, TELT (Tunnel Euralpin Lyon Turin), has awarded the contract (package 5A) for the preparatory work on the Avrieux shafts for the Lyon–Turin rail line to the Consortium  VINCI Construction Grands Projets (leader), Dodin Campenon Bernard and VINCI Construction France (65%), Webuild (33%) and Bergteamet (2%).

The works package involves preparatory work perpendicular to the future safety site at Modane, near the midpoint of the 57.5-kilometre base tunnel that will connect the international stations in Saint Jean de Maurienne (France) and Susa (Italy).

The EUR220 million contract for works package 5A involves construction of the four 500-m-deep Avrieux shafts using raise-boring machines (mechanical excavators operating from the base of the future shafts). This technique optimises work safety, costs and time. The work also involves digging galleries and seven caverns, using conventional methods (explosives), at the foot of the existing Villarodin Bourget–Modane decline, which is up to 22 m high and 23 m wide. The project will employ up to 250 people over the coming 36 months. Visit https://www.vinci.com/vinci.nsf/en/index.htm   and https://www.telt-sas.com/. 28/20.