The State Railway Administration of Ukraine (Ukrzaliznytsia) is preparing to start the construction of the new double-track Beskyd tunnel in the Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine.

In 2011, the Interbudmontazh in Kyiv (Ukraine) secured a EUR102.7 million contract for the design and construction of the new 1.8 km-long double-track Beskyd tunnel on the Lvov-Chop line. Design and preparatory works started in 2011.

The new tunnel will replace the existing 1.7 km single-track tunnel built in 1886, which is a major bottleneck on the Crete International Transport Corridor V through Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine and Russia.

Due to deformation and the destruction of drainage systems, groundwater is seeping into the old tunnel causing ice, which threatens traffic safety in winter. Trains pass through the tunnel at minimum speed. In addition, the one-way tunnel limits the capacity of the entire international transport corridor.

The new tunnel, scheduled to open in 2015, will enable speeds to be increased to 70 km/h. Its alignment is 30 m south of the existing tunnel, which will be retained as an emergency tunnel with three connecting crosspassages. Click ua/13 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit www.uz.gov.ua and http://interbudmontazh.com/eng/company.php. 47/12.