Connection between Funcho and Oudelouca dams planned by Instituto da Agua should be awarded late-2000. Traditional excavation with rockbolts and shotcrete for 8.3 km-long, 3 m-diameter tunnel expected to commence February, 2001 at budgeted cost of $20 million. October 1999. Open tendering for 8.15 km-long, 3 m-diameter headrace tunnel, deadline 21st May, 2000. Contact Instituto de Agua, Lisbon fax +351 2184 80825. Note change of area code. April 2000.  Award of design/build contract for 8.1 km-long, 2.3 m-diameter aqueduct to consortium of Spie Batignolles, Rosa Ramalho Cobetar, and Etermar. Visit www.inag.pt 19/01.Spie Batignolles Europe reports completion of tunnelling and good progress with 2.4 m-diameter concrete lining using 3 x 24 m-long CIFA formworks. 8 km-long tunnel was completed in 15 months using a Terratec-refurbished Robbins 3 m-diameter hardrock TBM and Clayton 8t battery locomotives with Valente rolling stock. TBM averaged 27.5 m/day, with best day of 96.8 m and best month of 1,062 m. Heavily folded schistose ground and 258 m-wide fault negotiated with 1.8 m-long Swellex bolts, steel arches and shotcrete applied using Aliva 262 and 246 machines. More from www.spiebatignolles.fr/entreprise/europe.asp 38/03.