Venezuela's state railway autonomous institute IAFE and the Italian embassy signed in January a letter of intent for the construction of the 70 km-long La Encrucijada-Charallave railway section, the last link to connect Caracas with Puerto Cabello. The path is in phase of optimisation and for the moment 18 tunnels stretching for a total of approx. 25 km are planned. The letter of intent sets the basis for awarding the contract to a consortium of builders which is expected to be formed by Ghella, Astaldi and Impregilo, who are currently building the Puerto Cabello-La Encrucijada section. Click here. 08/08.

Astaldi, in joint venture with Impregilo and Ghella, is to build two new railway lines in Venezuela valuing a total of USD2.2 billion. The two new lines are San Juan de los Morros-Dos Caminos-Calabozo-San Fernando de Apure (252 km) and Chaguaramas-Las Mercedes-Cabruta (201 km). The works are part of intergovernmental agreements between Italy and Venezuela. The joint venture, in which each member holds equal 33.33% stakes, will carry out the works for the two railway sections over the course of 76 months. Start-up is planned for the second quarter of 2006, immediately after the contracts are signed. The project, which is aimed at fostering the development of Venezuela's central and southern area, involves building 453 km of new railway lines, 15 km of which in tunnel and with 12 km of bridges and viaducts. The project also includes designing and installing superstructure, 13 railway stations, three logistic centres, and a maintenance workshop. In addition to the value of the works to build the lines, there will also be USD1 billion in options for designing, supplying and assembling railway systems (signals, control, telecommunications, electrification and rolling stock). Visit www.astaldi.com, www.impregilo.it, www.ghellagroup.com and www.infraestructura.gov.ve 16/06.The joint venture between Astaldi, Ghella and Impregilo has signed its two contracts worth a total of USD2.2 billion with Venezuela's autonomous state railways (IAFE). The signing of the contracts follows intergovernmental agreements reached in April between Italy and Venezuela. The contracts concern the construction of the new San Juan de los Morros-San Fernando de Apure (252 km) and Chaguaramas-Cabruta (201 km) railway lines. These 453 kilometres of new lines involve 15 km of tunnels and 12 km of bridges and viaducts. Visit www.astaldi.com, www.impregilo.it, www.ghellagroup.com and www.infraestructura.gov.ve 25/06.GEI, a consortium formed by Astaldi, Ghella and Impregilo will be responsible for the construction of the 251 km San Juan de los Morros-San Fernando de Apure rail line, whereof 41 km in the mountain and 210 km in plain. The line totals a cost of USD1.6 billion. The contract has been signed and the site is being prepared. It is a design/build contract. At this stage, the project is in the design phase so that many of the technical aspects will have to be defined in the future, once the project is finalised. From the operational point of view, the planning and organisation of the project is underway and soon the sites will be prepared and mobilised.This line has been divided in lots, the construction of which will be undertaken by the contractors who teamed to form the consortium GEI. According to the preliminary project, ten single bored tunnels will be constructed for a total of 16 km. The cross section is 90 sq m. There are no other underground structures (stations, shafts, etc.). Geology consists of metamorphic rock (micaschists).Ghella will build the 6.3 km San Juan tunnel (from chainage 2+300 to chainage 8+600), which is part of subsection D1-G which goes from chainage 0+000 to 11+611, to be also fully built by Ghella. The other tunnels on the line are part of the subsections awarded to Impregilo and Astaldi (see pdf here of how the tunnels are divided and pdf here of the division into lots). Visit www.ghellagroup.com, www.astaldi.com and www.impregilo.itThe planned tunnelling method is to use hydraulic breakers where possible (FIAT Kobelco excavators and Krupp and Indeco hammers) and drilling and blasting with Atlas Copco jumbo drill rigs, Cat and FIAT Kobelco loaders, and Astra trucks. There will be six working faces. Visit www.fiatkobelco.com, www.indeco-breakers.com, www.atlascopco.com, www.cat.com and www.astraspa.comFor support, Swellex bolts, three CIFA shotcrete pumps and three Scamac shotcrete pumps will be used. The shotcrete will be reinforced with Maccaferri fibres. Visit www.swellex.com, www.cifa.com, www.scamac.com and www.maccaferri.comFor mucking-out, 12 Cat 966 loaders, FIAT Kobelco loaders and 24 Astra trucks will be used in addition to Dieci telescopic elevators. Visit www.dieci.com 48/06.

  Construction of the El Valle-La Rinconada section on Line 3 will commence first quarter of 2002. Four TBMs to be used, two of which coming from Line 4 once the twin tunnels between Capuchinos and Plaza Venezuela are completed. Visit www.metrodecaracas.com.ve 52/01. Odebrecht signed a contract to extend southwards Line 3 from El Valle to La Rinconada serving four stations in Los Jardines, Coche, Mercado and La Rinconada where the line will intersect with the Valles del Tuy railway. Completion scheduled for 2006. Visit www.metrodecaracas.com.ve and www.odebrecht.com.br 38/02.

Seven tunnels totalling 2.5 km and three cut-and-cover stretches making 833 m required on a 9.5 km line between El Tambor and Las Adjuntas in Los Teques, capital of Miranda state, 30 km west of Caracas. BOT contract prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff. Total investment around US$300 million. Four bids submitted: Spanish-Venezuelan JV Necso-Capev (US$184 million); Brazilian consortium Odebrecht-Vinccler (US$208 million); Impregilo with Astaldi (US$218 million); and Dragados-Dycvensa (US$320 million). Preliminary work expected to end in October. Contract to be signed within two weeks for work to commence in November, 2001. Time frame of 34 months. Visit www.pbworld.com 42/01.Brazilian-Venezuelan jv Oderbrecht-Vinccler chosen by Metro de Los Teques to build the line Los Teques-Las Adjuntas for US$208 million, financed by Corporacií³n Andina de Fomento (CAF). Visit www.caf.com 45/01.

Bids for excavation of remaining 6 km and rehabilitation of existing 20 km as follows: Dell'Acqua CA, $90.8m; Concreto, $92.2m; Torno/Obresca/Conintur JV, $105.3m; Impregilo/Ghella/Astaldi JV, $131.4m; Jose Cartellone CC, $172.5m. No bids from Odebrecht, Spie, and ICA. More from clairmurdock@attglobal.net 40/01.

55 km-long double-track line from Caracas south to Cua will have 26 tunnels, longest of which is Tazon at 7 km. Cross-section is arched with a width of 5.8 m and height of 6.8 m. Contractor is an Italian-Venezuelan consortium comprising Impregilo, Astaldi, Ghella, and Otaola Ingeniera. Concrete spraying using a dry mix is being undertaken around the 52 portals and along most of the embankment slopes by Trevi Cimentaciones using six Aliva AL 262.1 machines. Around 20 to 30 sq m/day of sprayed concrete is being laid at pumping distances of up to 150 m and at pressures of 5 to 7 bar. Completion scheduled 2003. Visit www.aliva.com January 2000.

Infrastructure Ministry reports that it is to apply a 1998 budget surplus of US$150 million to a proposed metro for Maracaibo. Construction is due to start in the first quarter of 2000. November 1999.Electrowatt Engineering Ltd helping evaluate bids for Metro de Maracaibo Line 1 with US$150 million budget. Four companies have bid: Alstom, Spie-Enertrans/Bombardier, Siemens and a Spanish consortium led by CAF, joined in each case by a civil contractor. The 6.1 km route will have 4.7 km at grade and 1.4 km elevated, with 0.7 km depot and workshop access tunnel in cut-and-cover. Visit www.electrowatt.com October 2000.

Line 1 under construction by jv of Ghella/Sogene/Dragados/FCC/Otipsa as 9 m-wide x 4.7 m-high rectangular tunnels. Walls poured in sections of 6 linear metres daily, roof in sections of 42 linear metres weekly. October 1999.  Award of $40 million, 4 km-long, 9.5 m-diameter section of Line 1 with seven cut and cover stations to Ghella Sogene. Lovat EPB will install 6+1 concrete segmental lining at depths of 7 m to 15 m in clay, silt and sand. Visit www.lovat.com 39/01.

  Six consortia prequalified to build 6 km underground line to run parallel with Line 1 and connect Capuchinos and Plaza Venezuela. Nov 1998.   Contract award to Consorcio de Brasil, led by Odebrecht, which bid US$101 million for the first phase of Line 4 consisting of 5 km of track with four stations. November 1999.   First phase with four stations will link Capuchinos on Line 2 with Plaza Venezuela III on Line 3, relieving the central section of Line 1. Civil engineering work will be undertaken by Norberto Odebrecht of Brazil, which bid US$101.2 million. The second phase of Line 4 will run southeast from Plaza Venezuela to El Cafetal, bringing the length to 12.4 km. Caracas Metro hopes to complete this extension by 2010. December 1999.  Excavation start on 6th December, 2001 of TBM-driven Plaza Venezuela-Capuchinos section on Line 4 by contractor Odrebrecht. Four new stations in Plaza Venezuela, Parque Central, Nuevo Circo, and Teatros. Expected daily speed of 14 metres. Completion in December 2003. Cost of US$460 million. Second phase extension planned between Plaza Venezuela and Parque del Este, for US$600 million. Also under construction is a 380 m tunnel driven by traditional means to join Line 4 and Line 2 in Capuchinos. Visit www.metrodecaracas.com.ve 51/01.