Breakthrough of 5.292 km tunnel between Huermeda and Paracuellos and work under way on another 1.82 km drive from Santa Maria de Huerta monastery to Arcos de Jalon. Further extension to connect Alicante and Albacete mooted. Nov 1998. 44 contracts involve 22 tunnels of total length 22 km. Wirth 12.47 m-diameter reaming TBM has completed 2.5 km of 4.78 km Paracuellos tunnel working south to north. Contractors are FCC and Necso for client GIF. More information from jmfdcas@iies.es February 2000. Wirth reaming TBM nearing breakthrough at Paracuellos after 2.8 km drive in which 7 m/day target was often exceeded with maximum advance 22.4 m/day recorded. Roof and sides shotcreted on advance using CIFA track-mounted snorkel mounted close to reamer head. Circular steel arches set 6 m behind face. Aliva wheeled shotcrete jumbo in invert. Large material +20 cm is screened at TBM and trucked away while smaller material is conveyed. Any rock needed for backfilling invert is ploughed of the belt and the remainder is used for embankments or dumped. Concreting underway with gantry erecting welded PVC membrane ahead of concrete forms achieving 170 m/week. For the record, the pilot drive by Murer used their Wirth 4.7 m TBM at 40 m/day in the pre-Cambrian rocks with black schist and graphite covered by quartzite and some sandstone. Visit www.gif.es June 2000. Eighth section of Madrid-Zaragoza stretch under construction by Necso with 1.82 km-long x 137 sq m Sagides tunnel in mixed ground conditions due for completion March, 2001 using drill/blast and roadheader. Visit www.necso.es December 2000.   Open invitation to tender, deadline 19th February, 2001, for two twin tunnels, 1.72 km and 415 m long, in Tarragona on Lerida-Barcelona line. Visit www.gif.es 06/01.   Tenders imminent for construction of $800 million connection to Barcelona on alignment Cornella-Airport-Sants-La Sagrera, requiring three major 11.2 m-diameter EPB bored single tunnels in sands, clay and mud of lengths 4.5 km, 7.3 km and 4 km, with 18 km of cut and cover and three single-track junctions. Awards expected end-2001 for start Spring, 2002 and completion end-2004. Visit www.gif.es 26/01.   Necso appointed to construct subsection VII-B of the Lleida-Barcelona high-speed link between Roda de Barࠡnd El Vendrell for Pta5.95 billion (Euro35.78 million). Two twin tunnels of 1,750 m required. Time frame of 26 months to build full stretch. Visit www.necso.es 41/01.   Call for bids imminent further to government approval of the 2.9 km Sant Lloren砤'Hortons-Sant Esteve Sesrovires section in Barcelona province. The section requires to build four tunnels totalling 2,083 metres. Cost of ?39.5 million. 30/02.   Open call for bids, deadline 19th September, 2002 for construction of the 2.9 km Sant Lloren砤'Hortons-Sant Esteve Sesrovires section in Barcelona. Includes four tunnels totalling 2,083 metres. Tender value ?39.5 million. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=124681-2002, OJ S 156, or contact GIF, Madrid, fax +34 913198535. 34/02.   Open call for bids, deadline 7th October, 2002 for construction of 2.1 km L'Hospitalet-Can Tunis section between Martorell and Barcelona, for access of both Spanish gauge and international gauge trains to the Barcelona harbour and the Can Tunis freight station. Includes a double-track tunnel. Value ?96.5 million. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=124688-2002, OJ S 156, or contact GIF, Madrid, fax +34 913198535. 35/02.   OHL has been awarded the construction of the Sant Lloren砤?Hortons-Sant Esteve Sesrovires section in Barcelona for ?35 million and a time frame of 13 ? months. There will be four tunnel totalling 2,083 metres. Visit www.gif.es 47/02.FCC and Comsa have won the contract for the L?Hospitalet-Can Tunis stretch. A 1,430 m double-track tunnel is required. Contract value ?62 million. 47/02.Open call for bids, deadline 23rd February, 2004 for reinforcement of the Lilla tunnel on section Lleida-Martorell in Catalonia. Budget: 53.9 million euros. Time frame: 10 months. Work will consist in reinforcing the lining and strengthening the invert. Cracks, craters and other abnormalities appeared in the tunnel due to the expansive ground comprising argilite and gypsum-bearing lutite with high contents of anhydrite. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=004002-2004, OJ S 5, or contact GIF, Madrid, fax +34 913198535. Read E-News Weekly 47/2003 & 11/2003. 03/04.Open call for tenders, deadline 23th February, 2004 for reinforcement of the Camp Magr頡nd Puig Cabrer tunnels on section Lleida-Martorell in Catalonia. Budget: EUR26.2 million. Time frame: seven months. Work will consist in reinforcing the lining and strengthening the invert. Cracks, craters and other abnormalities appeared in the tunnel due to the expansive ground comprising argilite and gypsum-bearing lutite with high contents of anhydrite. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=006500-2004, OJ S 8, or contact GIF, Madrid, fax +34 913198535. 04/04.Open call for tenders, deadline 4th February, 2004 for work control and management during reinforcement of the Camp Magr頡nd Puig Cabrer tunnels, section Lleida-Martorell of the Madrid-Barcelona high speed link. Budget: EUR1 million. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=005099-2004, OJ S 6, or contact GIF, Madrid, fax +34 913198535. Read E-News Weekly 47/2003 & 11/2003. 04/04.Open call for bids, deadline 12th March, 2004 for design and work supervision of the high speed rail tunnels in Girona and Sarriଠapproximate lengths of 4 km for the IUC gauge line and 4.8 km for the Spanish gauge line, and the Girona station. Tender budget:EUR8 million. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=024978-2004, OJ S 28, or contact GIF, Madrid, fax +34 913198535. Read E-News Weekly 9/2002. 09/04.Getinsa and Geocontrol won a EUR632,400 contract for work control and management during reinforcement of the 2,065 m-long 90 sq m Lilla tunnel, the 984 m-long 110 sq m Camp Magre tunnel and the 704 m-long 113 sq m Puig Cabrer tunnel, section Lleida-Martorell of the Madrid-Barcelona high speed link. Visit www.getinsa.es y www.geocontrol.es 16/04.Ferrovial-Agroman has pocketed a EUR41.2 million contract for reinforcement works of the walls and invert of the 2,065 m x 90 sq m Lilla tunnel between Lleida and Barcelona. Visit www.ferrovial.es 17/04.Corsan-Corviam has pocketed a EUR19.7 million contract for reinforcement works of the lining and invert in the 984 m 110 sq m Camp Magre tunnel and the 704 m 113 sq m Puig Cabrer tunnel on section Lleida-Martorell. Visit www.corsan-corviam.es 18/04.Iberinsa and AEPO have secured a EUR4.9 million contract for design and work supervision of the high speed rail tunnels in Girona and Sarria, approximate lengths of 4 km for the IUC gauge line and 4.8 km for the Spanish gauge line, and the Girona station. Visit www.iberinsa.es and www.aepo.es 31-32/04.Typsa has secured a EUR2.9 million contract for the design of the Sant Julia de Ramis-Pontos subsection on the Girona-Figueras section on the high speed line between Barcelona and the French border. This 16 km subsection includes five tunnels for a total length of 8,315 m, whereof two of 2.8 km and one of 1,550 m. Visit www.typsa.es 45/04. Open call for tenders, deadline 23rd february, 2005 for construction of the 4.1 km Sant Joan Despi-Sant Boi de Llobregat section in Barcelona. This section includes a 2,356 m tunnel. Tender estimate: EUR88.3 million. Time frame for construction is 21 months. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=012024-2005, OJ S 13, or contact Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF), Madrid, fax +34 917005771. 04/05.Open call for tenders, deadline 23rd february, 2005 for construction of the 2.7 km Hospitalet-La Torrassa section in Barcelona. This section includes a 2,163 m tunnel. Tender estimate: EUR122 million. Time frame for construction is 22 months. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=012033-2005, OJ S 13, or contact Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF), Madrid, fax +34 917005771. 04/05.Open call for tenders, deadline 23rd february, 2005 for construction of the 2.1 km La Torrassa-Sants section in Barcelona. This section includes a 1.8 km tunnel. Tender estimate: EUR106 million. Time frame for construction is 24 months. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=012027-2005, OJ S 13, or contact Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF), Madrid, fax +34 917005771. 04/05.The ministry of public works awarded the construction contracts for the three most critical high speed rail sections to access to Barcelona, located between Sant Joan Despi and Sants station, worth a total amount of EUR275.7 million. High speed trains will arrive in Sants in April 2007, if the project meets the time frame. Section La Torrassa-Sants, which runs in majority in tunnel, has been awarded to Sacyr, Scrinser and Cavosa for EUR79 million. This 2.1 km section includes a 1.8 km tunnel. The contractors committed to building the section in 23 months and a half, not included the month necessary to sign the contract. Visit www.sacyr.com and www.cavosa.es 15/05.Section Sant Joan Despi-Sant Boi, 4.1 km in length, has been awarded to Necso for EUR66 million and a time frame to complete the job of 19 months. This section includes a 2,356 m tunnel. Visit www.necso.es 15/05.Section L'Hospitalet-La Torrassa, worth EUR92.8 million with a time frame of 20 months, has been awarded to OHL and Agrupacion Guinovart Obras y Servicios Hispania. This 2.7 km section includes a 2,163 m tunnel. Visit www.ohl.es and www.guinoshsa.com 15/05.Open call for bids, deadline 23rd May, 2005 for consulting and assistance for the follow-up, planning management and progress of the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border line and coordination of works in Barcelona and its urban area. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=061900-2005, OJ S 64, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 16/05.Open call for tenders, deadline 28th June, 2005 for consulting and assistance aiming at reinforcing safety during construction of the access tunnels to Sants station in Barcelona and La Roca-Ruidellots section on the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border high speed line. The assignment consists in following up the project and proposing improvements to safety measures to avoid any accidents or collapse in the tunnels and their consequences for the construction itself and the neighbouring facilities and buildings, working in coordination with the planning control teams and supporting these teams with regard to tunnelling safety. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=088720-2005, OJ S 90, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 21/05.Euroconsult secured a EUR534,000 contract for consulting and assistance to reinforce safety during construction of the access tunnels to Sants station in Barcelona and La Roca-Ruidellots section on the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border high speed line. Click es/20. Visit www.euroconsult.es 36/05.Open call for tenders, deadline 12th December, 2005 for safety and health coordination during the construction of section Vila Franca del Penedes-Barcelona on the Madrid-Lleida-Barcelona-French border high speed line. Con飴ese a http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=es&docid=217522-2005, DO S 220, o contᣴese con el ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005771. 48/05.Open call for tenders, deadline 29th May, 2006 for inspection of buildings near the tunnel works between Sants and La Sagrera in Barcelona, which is the city access of the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border line. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=079310-2006, OJ S 75, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 17/06.Intemac won a EUR1 million contract to inspect buildings near the tunnel works on the Sants-La Sagrera section in Barcelona, which is the central city access of the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border line. Visit www.intemac.es 36/06.Open call for tenders, deadline 13th November, 2006 for construction of the Sant Julia de Ramis-Cornella del Terri section on the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border high speed line in Girona province. This 3.3 km section includes two mined tunnels: La Garriga, 758 m and Sant Andreu, 649 m. Both tunnels will have a cross section of 110 sq m. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=210172-2006, OJ S 198, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 43/06.Open call for tenders, deadline 13th November, 2006 for construction of the Cornella del Terri-Vilademuls section on the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border high speed line in Girona province. This 7.1 km section includes two mined tunnels: Llogaia, 1,713 m and Feixes d'en Vidal, 1,372 m. Both tunnels will have a cross section of 90 sq m. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=209095-2006, OJ S 197, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 43/06.Open call for tenders, deadline 13th November, 2006 for construction of the Vilademuls-Pontos section on the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border high speed line in Girona province. This 5.66 km section includes one mined tunnel in Les Cavorques, 2,939 m and 85 sq m of cross section. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=210176-2006, OJ S 198, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 43/06.Open call for tenders, deadline 11th December, 2006 for construction of the Trinidad junction-Montcada section on the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border high speed line. The 4.75 km section includes a 3,709 m-long tunnel, whereof 2,900 metres will be bored by an 11,300 mm-outer diameter TBM. The cross section will be 64.77 sq m. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=229310-2006, OJ S 208, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 47/06.Open call for tenders, deadline 2nd January, 2007 for work control during construction of the Mollet del Valles-Montomes del Valles y Montomes del Valles-La Roca del Valles sections on the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border high speed line. These sections are 3.4 km and 10.2 km long and include five cut-and-cover tunnels of 1,220 m, 616 m, 146 m, 469 m and 658 m. The Barcelona-Port Bou line in Montmelo will also be sunk underground. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=230920-2006, OJ S 215, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 47/06.Open call for tenders, deadline 2nd January, 2007 for work control during construction of the Sant Julia de Ramis-Pontos section on the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border high speed line. This is the reunion of three sections of 3.3 km, 5.7 km and 5.7 km, including five tunnels of 758 m, 649 m, 1,713 m, 1,372 m and 2,938 m. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=230919-2006, OJ S 215, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 47/06.Open call for tenders, deadline 5th February, 2007 for construction of the 10.3 km-long Montornes del Valles-La Roca del Valles section. Construction will take 21 months. This section includes four cut-and-cover tunnels of 616 m, 146 m, 469 m and 658 metres respectively. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=4099-2007, OJ S 4, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 03/07.Coprosa secured a EUR46 million contract to build the 3.3 km-long Sant Julia de Ramis-Cornella del Terri section in Girona province. Construction will take 18 months. This section includes the 758 m-long Garriga tunnel and the 649 m-long Sant Andreu tunnel. Visit www.coprosa.es 03/07.A JV formed by Sacyr and its subsidiaries Cavosa and Scrinser signed a EUR93.2 million deal to build the 7.1 km-long Cornella del Terri-Vilademuls section, in Girona province. Construction will take 17.5 months. This section includes the 1,713 m-long Santa Llogaia tunnel and the 1,372 m-long Feixes d'en Vidal tunnel. Visit www.sacyr.com or www.gruposyv.com and www.cavosa.es 03/07. A EUR85.1 million contract has been awarded to a JV of FCC and Servia Canto to build the 5.66 km-long Vilademuls-Pontos section, in Girona province. Construction will take 19.5 months. This section includes the 2,939 m-long Les Cavorques tunnel. Visit www.fcc.es and www.servia-canto.com 03/07.Open call for tenders, deadline 5th February, 2007 for construction of the 3.3 km-long Mollet del Valles-Montornes del Valles section. This section includes a 1,220 m-long cut-and-cover tunnel and an underground station in Montmelo. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=5110-2007, OJ S 5, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 04/07.Construction of the 4.75 km Trinidad junction-Montcada i Reixac section on the Madrid-Saragossa-Barcelona-French border high speed line has been commissioned to Corsan-Corviam, Copasa, and Vias y Construcciones. The contract is worth EUR127.6 million. The section includes a 3,709 m-long tunnel, whereof 2,900 metres will be bored by an 11.3 m-diameter TBM. Visit www.corsan-corviam.es, www.copasa.es and www.vias.es 12/07.The contract for construction of the 3.3 km-long Mollet del Valles-Montornes del Valles section has been awarded to a JV of Ferrovial Agromᮠand Compa񭡠de Obras Castillejos for EUR105.5 million and a time frame of 30 months. The most important structure is a 1,220 m-long cut-and-cover tunnel in Montmelo through which the new IUC gauge trains and the existing Spanish gauge trains will run. Visit www.ferrovial.es 15/07.The contract for construction of the 10.3 km-long Montornes del Valles-La Roca del Valles section has been awarded to a JV of Aldesa Construcciones and Construcciones Pai for EUR61.8 million and a time frame of 19 months. This section includes four cut-and-cover tunnels of 616 m, 146 m, 469 m and 658 metres. Visit www.aldesaconstrucciones.es 15/07.Geocisa and Typsa received a EUR2.7 million contract for work supervision during construction of the 17.7 km Mollet del Valles-Montornes del Valles-La Roca del Valles section. Visit www.geocisa.com and www.typsa.es 15/07.Open call for tenders, deadline 7th June, 2007 for inspection of buildings near the tunnels of the Trinidad junction-Montcada section in Barcelona. The 4.75 km section includes a 3,709 m-long tunnel, whereof 2,900 metres will be bored by an 11,300 mm-outer diameter TBM. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=98211-2007, OJ S 80, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 19/07.Open call for tenders, deadline 19th July, 2007 for construction of the 7.5 km Borrassa-Figueres section in Girona province, including a 1,750 m tunnel. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=139226-2007, OJ S 113, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 25/07.Open call for tenders, deadline 16th August, 2007 for construction of the urban tunnels and first phase of the station in Girona. The 3.6 km section includes two TBM-built tunnels of 1,297 metres and 1,564 metres, featuring an outer diameter of 11.75 metres and cross-section of 69 square metres, named Girona I and Girona II. The 1,564 m-long Girona II tunnel will connect with the next section, the 3,042 m-long Sarria tunnel, so that trains will travel through a 4,606 m-long tunnel altogether. The contract also includes the first phase of the new intermodal station. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=161971-2007, OJ S 132, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 29/07.Open call for tenders, deadline 16th August, 2007 for construction of the 5 km Sarria de Ter-Sant Julia de Ramis section, which includes two tunnels to be excavated by traditional method. The first tunnel, the 3,042 m-long Sarria tunnel, will connect to the previous section, the 1,564 m-long Girona II tunnel, so that trains will travel through a 4,606 m-long tunnel altogether. The second tunnel, the Montagut tunnel, is 475 m long. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=161950-2007, OJ S 132, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 29/07.Open call for bids, deadline 3rd September, 2007 for construction of the 5.6 km Sants-La Sagrera tunnel section in Barcelona. The first 422 metres and last 395 metres will be built using the cut-and-cover method while 4,823 metres will be driven by TBM. There are also a main shaft at the end of the section, two intermediate shafts for start and exit of the TBM and 12 shafts for emergency exit from the tunnel, five of which will also be used for ventilation and two for groundwater pumping. Read E-News Weekly 26/2007, 18/2007, 27/2006, 5/2006, 8/2004 & 25/2002. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=183732-2007, OJ S 148, or contact ADIF, fax +34 917005751. 33/07.Asistencia Tecnica Industrial (Atisae) bagged a EUR390,000 contract to inspect buildings near the tunnels of the Trinidad junction-Montcada section in Barcelona. The 4.75 km section includes a 3,709 m-long tunnel, whereof 2,900 metres will be bored by an 11,300 mm-outer diameter TBM. Visit www.atisae.com 34/07.The bidding process for construction of the high speed railway tunnel in Barcelona between Sants and the future terminal in La Sagrera bordering the Sagrada Familia cathedral, estimated to a maximum of EUR246.2 million, has attracted eight candidates: Sacyr, and its two affiliates Scrinser and Cavosa; Dragados, its affiliate Tecsa, Constructora San Jos頡nd Obras Subterrᮥas; Comsa and Isolux Corsᮻ Construcciones Rubau, OHL and Acsa; FCC and Copisa; V� y Construcciones; Ferrovial Agromᮠand Copcisa; and Acciona. ADIF will award the contract in October. The project is a 5.64 km section between the two stations. The first 422 metres and last 395 metres of the path will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method, whereas the remaining 4.82 km will be bored by a TBM. The project also includes a 240 m-long 40 m-deep concrete wall along the Sagrada Familia to form a protection precinct and avoid that any ground movement generated by tunnelling affect the monument's foundations. These works will be performed before the passage of the TBM. Read E-News Weekly 26/2007, 18/2007, 27/2006, 5/2006, 8/2004 & 25/2002. 40/07.ADIF has delayed to November the contract award, initially scheduled for 26th October, 2007, for construction of the tunnel that will cross Barcelona between Sants and La Sagrera stations. The decision is the consequence of sinkholes affecting the L'Hospitalet-La Torrassa section. Local commuter services on three suburban lines operated by Renfe and one line operated by the Catalan railways have been interrupted since 20th October. A sixth sinkhole, appeared in Bellvitge station on 26th October, has led to halt work on that section. The work stoppage has amplified the controversy that the Sants-La Sagrera tunnel project has triggered in Barcelona because of the fact that its route passes near the Sagrada Familia cathedral. Read E-News Weekly 45/2007.The joint venture formed by Sacyr and its subsidiaries Scrinser and Cavosa is the best placed to pocket the contract, with a 35-month construction time (two years and 11 months). This contract consists in constructing a 5.64 km section that will connect the two stations. The first 422 metres and the last 395 metres of the route will be diaphragm wall supported station boxes, while the remaining 4,823 metres will be built by means of a TBM. The project also includes a main shaft situated at the end of the route, two additional shafts for the entrance and exit of the TBM and 12 shafts for emergency exit, five of which will be used also for ventilation and two for pumping of the groundwater. 44/07.Aldesa Construcciones bagged a EUR82.4 million contract to build the Sarriᠤel Ter-Sant Juliࠤe Ramis section in Girona. This 5 km stretch includes two tunnels to be excavated by traditional method. The first tunnel, the 3,042 m-long Sarria tunnel, will connect to the previous section, the 1,564 m-long Girona II tunnel, so that trains will travel through a 4,606 m-long tunnel altogether. The second tunnel, the Montagut tunnel, is 475 m long. Visit www.aldesaconstrucciones.es 44/07.FCC (40%), Dragados (30%), Copisa (20%) and Tecsa (10%) bagged a EUR278.6 million contract to build the urban tunnels and first phase of the station in Girona. The 3.6 km section includes two TBM-built tunnels named Girona I and Girona II. The 1,564 m-long Girona II tunnel will connect with the next section, the 3,042 m-long Sarria tunnel, so that trains will travel through a 4,606 m-long tunnel altogether. The contract also includes the first phase of the new intermodal station. Visit www.fcc.es, www.dragados.com, www.copisa.com and www.tecsa.es 45/07.A joint venture formed by Sacyr, Cavosa and Scrinser pocketed a EUR77 million contract to construct the 7.5 km Borrassa-Figueres section in Girona province, including a 1,750 m tunnel. Construction will last 20 months. Visit www.gruposyv.com and www.cavosa.es 45/07.On 18th January, ADIF - Spain's administrator of railway infrastructure - has awarded the construction of the Sants-La Sagrera high speed rail section to a joint venture of Sacyr and its affiliates Cavosa and Scrinser, who have been given a EUR179.3 million contract to complete in 35 months a project that will provide the final stage of the rail link between Madrid and the heart of Barcelona, and eventually into France. The project will be co-financed, up to 72.25%, by cohesion funds of the European Union. Diaphragm wall work will be implemented to build the first 422 metres and last 395 metres of the 5.64 km section, while the remaining 4,832 metres will be driven by an 11.4 m excavated diameter earth pressure balance TBM. The machine will be ordered immediately and should be ready in one year from now. Visit www.gruposyv.com and www.cavosa.esThe tunnel will not run anywhere along its path beneath buildings but always under the Mallorca, Diagonal and Proven硠streets. The tunnel will pass near the unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral but prior to the excavation by a tunnel boring machine, a protective concrete wall formed by 1.5 m-diameter piles dug at a depth of up to 40 metres will be built to create a vibration-insulated system to protect the cathedral's foundations from the tunnelling works. Other preliminary works prior to excavation include the main entry and reception shafts, located at each end of the path, two other shafts for TBM operation, along with 12 shafts for emergency exits from the tunnel, five of which will also be used for ventilation and two for pumping of groundwater. Read E-News Weekly 3/2008, 26/2007, 18/2007, 27/2006, 5/2006, 8/2004 & 25/2002. 04/08.Open call for tenders, deadline 27th March, 2008 for work inspection of the 5 km Sarria de Ter-Sant Julia de Ramis section, which includes the 3,042 m Sarria tunnel and the 475 m Montagut tunnel. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=48730-2008, OJ S 35, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 09/08.ADIF commissioned the construction of the Sagrera-Trinidad junction section, divided in two contracts, on the Madrid-Barcelona-French border high speed link. The Sagrera contract has been awarded to CorsᮭCorviam for EUR67.9 million and a time frame of 19 months. The Sant Andreu contract has been awarded to Acciona Infraestructuras and Copcisa for EUR177.4 million and a time frame of 28 months. The two contracts represent a length of 4.24 km, running fully underground in a cut-and-cover tunnel. Visit www.corsan-corviam.es, www.acciona.es and www.copcisa.com 12/08.Open invitation to tender, deadline 3rd June, 2008 for support to the construction management and follow-up of safety measures during construction of the tunnels on the Sants-La Roca del Valles and Riudellots-Figueras sections. These two sections include four TBM-built tunnels to cross Barcelona, Monteada and Girona stretching for a total of 10.6 km, eight tunnels built by conventional methods, stretching for a total of 13.6 km, seven cut-and-cover tunnels stretching for 4.3 km, and four false tunnels stretching for a total of 2.1 km. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=104690-2008, OJ S 77, or contact ADIF, Madrid, fax +34 917005751. 18/08.Sener and KV Consultores scooped a EUR2.2 million contract for work inspection of the 5 km Sarria de Ter-Sant Julia de Ramis section, which includes the 3,042 m Sarria tunnel and the 475 m Montagut tunnel. Visit www.sener.es and www.kvconsultores.es 24/08.Geoconsult España won a EUR3.6 million contract for support to the construction management and follow-up of safety measures during construction of the tunnels on the Sants-La Roca del Vallès and Riudellots-Figueras sections. These two sections include four TBM-built tunnels to cross Barcelona, Monteada and Girona stretching for a total of 10.6 km, eight tunnels built by conventional methods, stretching for a total of 13.6 km, seven cut-and-cover tunnels stretching for 4.3 km, and four false tunnels stretching for a total of 2.1 km. Visit www.geoconsult.es 38/08.