TBM Finish on A86 Tunnel in ParisTunnelling on the second, 5.5 km section of the A86 double-deck tunnel linking Pont Colbert in Jouy-en-Josas, south of Versailles, and the A13 motorway in Vaucresson and Le Chesnay was completed on 23rd August, 2007 with the spectacular exit of the Herrenknecht tunnel boring machine at the A13 interchange. The breakthrough ceremony was attended by Martin Herrenknecht. Visit www.a86ouest.com/a86ouest/a_4.htm to view a video and www.herrenknecht.comThis new milestone marks the end of tunnelling on the A86 tunnel west of Paris, an innovative double-deck motorway tunnel covering a total distance of 10 kilometres, designed to guarantee maximum comfort and safety for motorists in the Greater Paris area. This new stage, crucial for the successful completion of one of Europe's largest construction sites, also illustrates a symbolic moment prior to the inauguration of the first section between Rueil-Malmaison and the A13 interchange in the spring of 2008. The first section of the tunnel, between Rueil-Malmaison and the A13 motorway, holed through in October 2003 and is now in its fitting-out phase and soon tests will be carried out prior to its inauguration scheduled for next spring. Click here. The second section where tunnelling has just finished will open in 2010. In 2010, the Duplex A86 as the tunnel is named in French (duplex in French means double deck) will connect Rueil-Malmaison and Versailles, thereby closing the missing link on the French capital's second ring road. Driving time will require less than 10 minutes, instead of 45 minutes currently. Toll will be modulated, ranging from EUR1.5 at night to EUR3 during slack time and EUR4 at peak hours.For Cofiroute, a subsidiary of VINCI and the concessionaire of the A86 tunnel, the project perfectly illustrates the success of its business model as concessionaire and builder which makes possible to finance, build, equip and operate the A86 motorway west of Paris. Cofiroute is a joint company of VINCI, who holds a 83.33% stake through VINCI Concessions (65.34%) and VINCI (17.99%), the other shareholder being Colas (16.67%), a subsidiary of Bouygues. Read E-News Weekly 16/2004, 40/2003 & 22/2002. Visit www.cofiroute.fr/cofiroute.nsf/web/duplex-a86.htm and www.vinci.comOn 25th May, 2007 the government approved the safety brief presented by Cofiroute for the A86 double-deck tunnel. This was a prerequesite to commence equipment testing, staff training and real scale safety drills. This is essential to guarantee the safety of users and the quality of the underground link. Click here. 36/07.