Austria

Melk - at/15

High Speed Railway

Vienna-Salzburg

Consultant: Geoconsult E-mail office@gcs.co.at contact F L Jansky. Nov 1998.

Ostu Stettin reports completion of 3 km x 100 sq m tunnel using Liebherr excavators for 90% of the excavation and drill/blast with Atlas Copco 145/135 drillrigs for the remainder. Concrete lining is complete and tunnel will be commissioned in mid-2000. More information visit www.geoconsult.at April 2000.

Austria

Brenner - at/16

High Speed Railway
Vomp exploration drive will be utilised as the escape route from the main tunnel. A 150 m access drive has been completed towards the centre of the alignment from where contractor Jager is driving east and west in loose material. Geology is terrible in the east drive where umbrella drilling is necessary using an Atlas Copco 352 drillrig and pregrouting is being carried out to stem the water ingress. The east drive had advanced 400 m when a 50 m-high collapse occurred two weeks ago. West drive is in better conditions and has advanced 700 m to date. Steel arches, rockbolts, mesh, shotcrete, and spiling all in use for support. More from www.geoconsult.at April 2000.

Open invitation to tender, deadline 21st December, 2000, for engineering design of 55 km-long base tunnel for Brenner Basistunnel EWIV, fax +43 512 560 404-770. Award of borehole investigation contract for 55 km-long base tunnel to consortium of Foralith, Plankel and Vicenzetto; award of contract for geological engineering consultancy services to Amman Infutec. Visit www.foralith.ch December 2000.

Preinformation notice for eight deep core drills, depth 400 to 1,300 m. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=220565-2003, OJ S 248, or contact Brenner Basistunnel EWIV, Innsbruck, fax +43 5124030110. E-mail christian.nemec@bbt-ewiv.com 02/04.

Preinformation notice for execution of seven core drills, both vertical and inclined. Depth: 400 to 1,000 m. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=009714-2004, OJ S 12, or contact Brenner Basistunnel, Innsbruck, fax +43 5124030110. E-mail christian.nemec@bbt-ewiv.com 05/04.

Negotiated procedure, deadline 14th April, 2004 for planning and technical project preparation for the Brenner base tunnel including development and implementation of a geographic information system.
Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=046698-2004, OJ S 54, or contact Brenner Basistunnel EWIV, Innsbruck, fax +43 5124030110. E-mail heimo.krassnitzer@bbt-ewiv.com 14/04.

Open invitation to tender, deadline 12th July, 2004 for execution of 12 vertical and inclined core drills, lengths ranging from 420 to 1,320 m, testing and 20 short core drills between Innsbruck and the Austrian-Italian border. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=100204-2004, OJ S 119, or contact Brenner Basistunnel, Innsbruck, fax +43 5124030110. E-mail heimo.krassnitzer@bbt-ewiv.com 27/04.

Negotiated procedure, deadline 31st January, 2005 for checking of the final design project for the Brenner base tunnel. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=205187-2004, OJ S 238, or contact Brenner Basistunnel, Innsbruck, fax +43 5124030110. E-mail heimo.krassnitzer@bbt-ewiv.com 51-52/04.

Geoconsult, Wisserodt Consulting, RaumUmwelt Planung of Vienna and SWS Engineering of Italy secured a EUR9.3 million contract for the design, planning, technical project preparation and the Austrian side environmental impact study for the Brenner base tunnel. Visit www.geoconsult.at, www.wisserodt.de and www.swsengineering.it 05/05.

The Brenner Basistunnel JV set up by Plankel, Foralith, Grund- Pfahl- und Sonderbau and Foraco secured a EUR12.8 million contract for 12 vertical and inclined core drills, at depths ranging from 420 to 1,320 m, testing and 20 smaller core drills in Wipp valley between Innsbruck and the Austrian-Italian border. Visit www.plankel.at, www.foralith.ch, www.gps-bau.com and www.foraco.com 12/05.
Open call for tenders, deadline 11th April, 2005 for constructional design for integration of a safety and rescue tunnel in the Innsbruck bypass, as part of the Brenner base tunnel, between Tulfes and Innsbruck. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=047395-2005, OJ S 49, or contact Brenner Basistunnel BBT SE, Innsbruck, fax +43 5124030110. E-mail heimo.krassnitzer@bbt-se.com 12/05.

Open call for tenders, deadline 22nd June, 2005 for detailed geotechnical and geomechanical mapping in the zone of the Brenner base tunnel between Fortezza, Aica and Innsbruck. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=098897-2005, OJ S 99, or contact BBT SE, Innsbruck, fax +43 5124030110. E-mail heimo.krassnitzer@bbt-se.com 22/05.

Geoprojekt secured a EUR152,250 contract for detailed geotechnical and geomechanical mapping in the zone of the Brenner base tunnel, calibration and interpretation of the data by means of data derived from samples and achievement of geological and geomechanical modelling to characterise the rock mass. The contract also includes a 3D modelling of the stress fields of the entire corridor area. 45/05.

The construction planning to integrate an escape and rescue gallery to the tunnel on the Innsbruck bypass is under way. A EUR400,600 contract has been awarded to Bernard-3G, a joint venture between Bernard + Partner based in Hall in Tirol and 3G Gruppe Geotechnik from Graz. Visit www.bernard-partner.at and www.3-g.at 49/05.
The execution of geotechnical and geomechanical tests in laboratory on rocks and soils as well as geological tests in laboratory on surface rock samples or sample pieces has been commissioned to GD Test for EUR304,000. The most important tests are the geomechanical tests carried out on sample pieces selected from about 25,000 m of samples taken from the zone of the Brenner base tunnel project between Innsbruck and Fortezza. Visit www.gdtest.it 49/05.
Checking the final projects of the Brenner base tunnel has been commissioned to Rabbit Rina Arsenal Brenner Basistunnel, a joint venture between Genoa-based Rina and Österreichisches Forschungs- und Prüfzentrum Arsenal from Vienna. Final projects means the environmental impact statement and the technical project for the Austrian section and the final project for the Italian section. Visit www.rina.org and www.arsenal.ac.at 49/05.

Open call for tenders, deadline 30th October, 2006 for geotechnical drilling in Schoenberg and Wolf, as part of the Brenner base tunnel. Read E-News Weekly 28/2006, 20/2006 & 13/2005. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=188387-2006, OJ S 177, or contact Brenner Basistunnel BBT, Vienna, fax +43 5124030110. E-mail ava@bbt-se.com 39/06.

Austria
Pyhrn - at/17
Motorway A9
$3.9 million contract for Traunfried 448 m x 70 sq m tunnel completed in limestones and dolomites by Alpine Bau. $18.87 million Klauser 1.954 km x 70 sq m tunnel under excavation by Stuag for completion 2002 using Atlas Copco 353 drillrig for facedrilling and installing Swellex rockbolts. Shotcrete, mesh, bolts and arches in general use, but current geology good, so no mesh or arches required. Advance 400 m on single face to date with a view to completion March, 2001. Completed tunnels will be used by bi-directional traffic until decision made regarding second tubes. Hungerbichl 516 m twin-tube started last week by Stuag using new Atlas Copco L2C drillrig to construct both 70 sq m drives and one crosspassage. Drilling and setting Swellex bolts in good rock conditions comprising limestone and dolomites. Visit www.stuag.at Spering 2.852 km single tube under construction by Alpine Bau from both ends using two Tamrock 316 Superdrilling jumbos. Visit www.alpine.at Consultancy services provided by Geoconsult www.gcs.co.at April 2000.

Two open tenders for 8.3 km Gleinalm tunnel safety improvement further to a car crash in August, 2001. First is for ventilation, fire detection and lighting equipment work, deadline 14th November, 2001. Visit http://ted.eur-op.int, document S 185-126924 or contact ÖSAG, Graz, fax +43 31252346-221. Second is for engineering services related to waterproofing and rehabilitation of concrete walls, deadline 11th December, 2001. Visit http://ted.eur-op.int, document S 204-139459 or contact ÖSAG, Graz, fax +43 3166073-66. 45/01.

Open call for tenders, deadline 10th July, 2002 for the construction of the Inzesdorf-Schön section of the A 9 highway. Includes the 2 x 900 m Kremsursprung tunnel. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/static/home/en/homepage.ini, OJ S 102, document 80457-2002 or contact ÖSAG, Vienna, fax +43 15340333. E-mail office.wien@osag.at 23/02.

Cancellation of the open call for bids for the Inzesdorf-Schön section including the 2 x 900 m Kremsursprung tunnel. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=040169-2003, OJ S 47, or contact ÖSAG, Vienna, fax +43 15340333. E-mail office.wien@osag.at 11/03.

Restricted call for tenders, deadline 10th January, 2006 for tunnel design for the second tube (5.5 km) of the Bosruck tunnel on the Pyhrn motorway A 9. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=235068-2005, OJ S 238, or contact ASFINAG, Vienna, fax +43 5010814420. E-mail baumanagement@asfinag.at 52/05-01/06.
Restricted procedure, deadline 16th January, 2006 for design of the second tubes of the following tunnels: Klaus (2,144 m), Traunfried (441 m), Spering (2,852 m) and Falkenstein (783 m) on the Klaus-Vollausbau chain of tunnels on the Pyhrn motorway A 9. Also includes construction project for the rehabilitation of the existing tubes. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=236954-2005, OJ S 240, or contact ASFINAG, Vienna, fax +43 5010814420. E-mail baumanagement@asfinag.at 52/05-01/06.

Restricted procedure, deadline 31st January, 2006 for project control in the planning phase for the following tunnels: Klaus (2,144 m), Traunfried (441 m), Spering (2,852 m) and Falkenstein (783 m) on the Klaus-Vollausbau chain of tunnels on the Pyhrn motorway A 9. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=01757-2006, OJ S 1, or contact ASFINAG, Vienna, fax +43 5010814420. E-mail baumanagement@asfinag.at 02/06.

Negotiated procedure, deadline 4th September, 2006 for control during the design phase of the second tube (5.5 km) of the Bosruck tunnel on the Pyhrn motorway A 9, with option for the rehab works of the existing tunnel. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=159992-2006, OJ S 148, or contact ASFINAG, Vienna, fax +43 5010814020. E-mail baumanagement@asfinag.at 33-34/06.

Open call for tenders, deadline 2nd August, 2007 for ground investigation for the 5.5 km second tube of the Bosruck tunnel on the Pyhrn highway A9. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=138362-2007, OJ S 112, or contact ASFINAG, Vienna, fax +43 5010814420. E-mail baumanagement@asfinag.at 27-28/07.

Restricted invitation to tender, deadline 27th March, 2008 for construction supervision during construction of the second, west tube and rehabilitation of the existing east tube of the 5.5 km Bosruck tunnel on the Pyhrn highway A9. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=57294-2008, OJ S 41, or contact ASFINAG, Vienna, fax +43 5010814420. E-mail baumanagement@asfinag.at 10/08.

Austria
Graz - at/22

Plabutsch

Highway

Contract for 83m2 x 8.6 km two-lane second tube awarded to jv of Ostu Stettin and Hinteregger. Geology comprises limestone, dolomite and shale. Contract commenced July, 1999 on four-year schedule. August 1999.

Contracting joint venture Ostu-Stettin/Hinteregger reports completion of 60 % of the raw tunnelling on the 9.9 km-long x 90 sq m west tube of Plabutsch road tunnel. The north face has advanced 2.8 km and the south face 2.2 km, using two Atlas Copco L3C drillrigs equipped with automatic boom control. The central section of tunnel with fan chambers and ventilation shafts was constructed along with the east tube 18 years ago. Top heading excavations are supported by 4 m-long Super Swellex bolts immediately after blasting, using the drillrig onboard pumps. North end geology was dolomite for the first 600 m, followed by a section of squeezing schist. The latter required face bolting using 3 m-long threaded Ibo Anker self-drilling extension rockbolts to produce 3 x 15 m strings which were grouted into place, and lattice girder support with shotcrete applied by Aliva twin-boom, crawler-mounted jumbo. Visit www.oestu-stettin.at and www.atlascopco.com November 2000.

Open call for bids, deadline 21st August, 2003 for upgrading of the 9,755 m-long Plabutsch tunnel, east tube on motorway A 9 including in particular two emergency stops, two exhaust air shafts and exhaust air ducts. Tender value €4.8 million. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=114699-2003, OJ S 128, or contact Autobahnen- und Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs-AG, Vienna, fax +43 3168772131. E-mail fa18a@stmk.gv.at 29/03.

Bhutan

Tala - bt/11

Tala Hydro

Drill / Blast

Project on Wangchu river will generate 1020 MW and will require 22.25 km x 50 m² headrace tunnel, 2 x 992 m long pressure shafts, 2.2 km x 60 m² tailrace tunnel and underground powerhouse. Mainly Atlas Copco equipment delivered under $8 million package.  Work commenced November, 1998 for completion May, 2004. Larsen & Toubro awarded RS900 million contract November, 1998 to build tunnel for Tala Hydroelectric Project Authority for completion early 2004. February 1999.

Five contract packages numbered C-1 to C-5. C-1 comprises the dam complex and 6 km of headrace tunnel (HRT) awarded to Hindustan Construction Company (HCC); C-2 excavation of HRT from 6 km mark to 11 km mark awarded to Jaiprakash Industries; C-3 excavation of HRT from 11 km mark to 15 km mark awarded to Larsen & Toubro; C-4 excavation of HRT from 15 km mark to 22.9 km mark awarded to HCC; C-5 comprises surge shaft, pressure shafts, powerhouse, and 2.2 km tailrace tunnel awarded to Jaiprakash. Each of the contracts has its own access roads and adits, and the individual sites are self-sufficient. Client THPA has built 80 km of access roads to date and work is proceeding on another 20 km to complete. THPA also procured a starter pack of equipment for each contract during tender phase in order to speed up mobilisation. These were on a cost reimbursement basis and included per contract: an Atlas Copco 352 drillrig; a Boltec 435 H rockbolter; a CIFA CSS 2 Spritzsystem shotcrete jumbo; a CK90E 1.2 cu m electric loader; and two Wagner MT 420 dumptrucks. Contractors have since been adding to the fleet, generally purchasing more of the same models.

To date, HCC has completed the diversion tunnel under C-1 and is proceeding to establish three massive desilting chambers and the first section of HRT. Jaiprakash has not been so fortunate on C-2 where it had to deal with a 15 m-long face collapse when it intersected an aquifer 122 m from the portal in its Pade Chu adit. Currently advancing with caution under the protection of 15 m probeholes. Larsen & Toubro has more than half completed its 975 m-long Gedu Chu access adit under C-3, and HCC has nearly completed its 301 m-long Mirchan Chu access adit on C-4. Jaiprakash is portalling at the surge shaft position on C-5. More information from mdthpa@druknet.net.bt October 1999.

Bolivia

Villavicencio - bo/12

Highway

Buenavista tunnel driven 4.5 km at 9 m wide in shale and sandstone using hydraulic breakers and excavators by Italian jv of Recchi and Fincosit. Umbrella drilling using Mustang A66. Large-scale use of Swellex rockbolts with holes drilled by Atlas Copco H352 Boomer. February 1997.

Brazil
Serro do Mar - br/18
Highway
Second 20.23 km-long carriageway of Ecovias dos Imigrantes, Sao Paulo to Praia Grande under construction by CR Almeida and Impregilo with three drill/blast tunnels for completion December, 2002. 3,146 m-long TD1 is complete, and becomes the longest Brazilian road tunnel. 2,080 m-long TD2 to be completed May, 2002, and 3,005 m-long TD3 in July, 2002. Four Atlas Copco drillrigs have excavated 1.2 million cu m of rock for concrete production. Design by Geodata. Visit www.ecovias.com.br and www.boomer-rig.com 44/01.

China

Hong Kong - cn/21

West Rail

Double-stack container 30.5 km West Rail link through northwest New Territories with 3.6 km tunnel at Ching Cheung Road/Wing Shun Street and 5.7 km tunnel at Castle Peak Road/Kam Tin Valley. Five design/build contracts expected September, 1998. Bored and cut/cover. Expected start 1999 with completion 2003. Second phase to extend route 20 km to Shenzhen border for completion 2011. Client: Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation. April 1998.

Five original design packages split into 12 contracts worth HK$30 bn and tenders imminent. Two of these are for Tai Lam tunnel. Nov 1998.

1.8 km x 8.75 m diameter twin-tube Kwai Tsing/Tsing Tsuen tunnel to be driven in mixed ground by jv of Dragages & Travaux Publics (Bouyges) and Zen Pacific using NFM EPB/hardrock TBM with semi-automatic segment erector to be delivered end-1999. Also incuded in this contract is the 1.7 km Ha Kwai Chung tunnel and a short cut-and-cover section. 5.5 km Tai Lam tunnel between Tsuen Wan and Kam Tin awarded to jv of Nishimatsu and Dragages & Travaux Publics. All tunnels scheduled for completion December, 2002. February 1999.

Nishimatsu/Dragages-Bouygues jv to use two new generation Atlas Copco WL 3C drillrigs with full drilling automation for 5.5 km Tai Lam tunnel. Contract involves drill/blast excavation of 700,000 cu m for tunnel and stations. December 1999.

NFM reports its 8.75 m EPB with automatic segment erection on KCRC has completed 1 km to date in 200 MPa gneiss and recorded 300 m in August, comfortably meeting planned progress rates. Visit www.framatome.fr October 2000.

Drill/blast excavation completed on 24th March, 2001 when Dragages et Travaux Publics (H.K) junctioned with Nishimatsu Construction on programme and within 25 mm at the mid point of the 5.5 km-long Tai Lam Tunnel. Visit www.nishimatsu.co.jp 14/01.

Tenders have been invited by the Hong Kong government for the Kowloon Southern Link (KSL) of the West Rail. This is a 4.5 km underground rail section that will link up the West Rail terminus from Nam Cheong station to the East Rail at Tsim Sha Tsui station. The stretch from Nam Cheong to West Kowloon and another section underneath Salisbury Road will be mainly constructed by the cut-and-cover method. The tunnel along Canton Road will be bored to mitigate traffic disturbance.
Estimated cost is HKD $8.3 billion. Construction start in early 2005 for completion in early 2009. Visit www.info.gov.hk and www.kcrc.com 19/04.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) has combined contracts KDB-300 and KDB-400 into a single contract as part of the northern section of the 3.8 km Kowloon Southern Link (KSL). The northern section includes 1.9 km of tunnel using cut-and-cover, drill/blast or a TBM from Jordan Road to the West Rail terminus at Nam Cheong station. The five groups invited to bid for the building of contract KDB-300/400 (northern section) are: Balfour Beatty Gammon; China State Construction Engineering Corp. / Costain; Kier; Paul Y / Penta Ocean; and Maeda / Barbican Construction.
The project also includes a southern section, as part of contract KDB-200, which includes 1.2 km of twin tunnels between Canton Road and Jordan Road, using a TBM, and West Kowloon station. The four groups invited to bid for the design and building of contract KDB-200 (southern section) are: Nishimatsu and Ove Arup as designer; Leighton, Balfour Beatty Gammon, Kumagai Gumi and John Holland with Mott Connell and Meinhardt as designers; Dragages, China State and Leader with Maunsell, Black & Veatch and Coffey as designers; and Paul Y, Seli and Maeda with Atkins China and Parsons Brinckerhoff as designers. Subscribe to E-News Weekly 48/2004 & 35/2004. Visit www.kcrc.com 53/04-01/05.

Invitation to tender, deadline 14th October, 2005 for supply and installation of a tunnel ventilation system to support the railway operation in the Kowloon Southern Link project, and modifications to the existing tunnel ventilation control systems across the West Rail and Tsim Sha Tsui extension. Visit www.kcrc.com/eng/corporate/business/tender.asp?ref=16028 or contact Johnny Tam, Senior Manager - Procurement & Contracts, Project Support Department, Capital Projects Division, Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, KCRC Hung Hom Building, 8 Cheong Wan Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel. +852 21636186, fax +852 27661093. 35/05.

The Link 200 JV including Leighton Contractors, its affiliate John Holland, Balfour Beatty, its affiliate Gammon Construction, and Kumagai will use a Herrenknecht mixshield/slurry TBM to bore a twin 1 km-long tunnel from Jordan Road to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station on the Kowloon Southern Link (contract KBD-200), which will connect the West Rail with the East Rail. The owner is Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC). Excavated diameter is 8.05 m and internal diameter is 7 m. Visit www.herrenknecht.com
The tunnels encounter a full range of ground conditions including completely decomposed granite (CDG), mixed face of CDG and granite, full face of granite, potential for encountering two faults and mixed face of CDG, alluvium and marine deposit.
The TBM components are being manufactured in Germany and China. Final assembly will take place in Canton. The machine is due for delivery in June. It is about 80 metres long and weighs around 800 tonnes. The supplier of the laser survey equipment for guidance is VMT. Visit www.vmt-gmbh.de
Segmental precast concrete lining (6 + 1, universal taper, two types, a 1.5 m-long ring and a 1.2 m-long ring). The segments will be manufactured in China at an existing precast plant using CBE moulds and shipped to site. The segments will be produced by subcontractor Redland Precast Concrete Products. Slurry transport and separation plant by Pigott Shaft Drilling of Preston (UK). Visit www.cbe-tunnels.com, www.redlandprecast.com.hk and www.mudcleaning.com
West Kowloon Station is 336 m long x 28 m wide x 20 m deep below ground and 20 m above ground. Contract KDB-200 also includes a 100 m cut-and-cover tunnel to North (connecting to KDB-300) and a 150 m cut-and-cover tunnel to South (connecting to bored tunnels). Also, approx. 50 m of cut-and-cover tunnel connecting the existing East Rail tunnels with the new tunnels. Click cn/21. Visit www.leightonasia.com/data/pdf/LeightonNewsJan06.pdf and www.kcrc.com/eng/corporate/project/index.asp?page=KSL 16/06.

Czech Republic
Northern Bohemia - cz/11

Motorway

NATM

Four twin tunnels to be driven: Prackovice 270 m, consultants Tubes; Padejcin 450 m, consultants Metroprojekt; Libouchec 500 m, consultants Metroprojekt; and Panenska 2 km, consultants Bung. 22 m2 pilot likely to be required at Prackovice. Tenders to be invited in 2001 with completion for 2006. June 1999.

D8 highway from Prague to Berlin via Dresden to be driven through mountains between Bohemia and Germany will require several tunnels, both short and long, whatever final route is chosen. Currently in preliminary design. December 1999.

Notice of intention to construct two tunnels 495 m-long and 2.02 km-long on D8 motorway for Czech Highways Directorate, Prague, fax +420 28400 9194. Visit www.czech.cz 36/01.

On D8 motorway from Prague towards Dresden, 2 x 445 m-long Libouchec and 2 x 2.02 km-long Panenska tunnels are under NATM design for tender late-Spring, 2002. Visit www.bung-gmbh.de and www.metroprojekt.cz 41/01.

Open bidding for construction of a 3 km dual two-lane section of motorway D8 including the 2 km-long Panenska tunnel. Work start in November 2002. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=102876-2002, OJ S 132, or contact Road and Motorway Directorate, Prague, fax +420 284009194. E-mail alois.lichnovsky@rsd.cz 29/02.

Tender notice, deadline 29th January, 2004 for construction of a 1,435 m section of motorway D8 including the Libouchec tunnel (535 m + 454 m) and associated ventilation, lighting and communications equipment. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=186962-2003, OJ S 208, or contact Road and Motorway Directorate, Na Pankráci 56, 14505 Prague or fax +420 284009196. E-mail alois.lichnovsky@rsd.cz 45/03.

A JV including Pontex, Faber Maunsell and VIS has pocketed a EUR1 million contract for work supervision of sections 0807/I and II of motorway D8 including the Libouchec tunnel (535 m + 454 m). Visit www.pontex.cz, www.fabermaunsell.com and www.vis.cz 26/04.

Skanska and Metrostav will build the 1,435 m section 0807/II part F on motorway D8 Prague-Usti nad Labem for CZK1.04 billion. This section includes the Libouchec tunnel (535 m + 454 m) and associated ventilation, lighting and communications equipment. Visit www.skanska.com and www.metrostav.cz 30/04.

Twin Panenska tunnels with nine crosspassages well advanced in paragneiss and orthogneiss featuring tectonic faults and occasional granitic porphyry veins. NATM excavation beneath 80 m cover using four Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer L2 C drillrigs for blastholes 1-3.5 m-deep and rockbolts 4-6 m-long. Excavators with scaling buckets or hydraulic hammers in constant use. Support by lattice girders, mesh, rockbolts and shotcrete. Top heading breakthroughs imminent. Waterproof lining underway concurrent with excavation in order to meet tight deadlines. Libouchec tunnel start delayed by ecological protest. Visit www.metrostav.cz and www.boomer-rig.com 48/04.

2 km-long Panenska twin-tube tunnel on motorway D8 between Prague and Dresden more than half excavated in difficult gneisses with graphitic porphyry veins by contractor Metrostav. Top heading and bench driven from north end only using drill/blast and rockbolting with lattice girders, mesh and shotcrete for support in five NATM classes. Excavation cross-section from 75-120 sq m using four complete sets of equipment to achieve 150 m/month/face. Nine crosspassages provide extra face access. 80 m maximum overburden. Visit www.metrostav.cz and www.atlascopco.com 18/05.

Czech Republic

Prague - cz/12

Metro

6.8 km extension planned from Nadr Holesovice to Letnany to comprise 1.2 km twin-track tunnel and 5.6 km of single-track tunnel driven in sedimentary rocks. First phase studies for $220 million contracts will be completed October, 1999 with a view to starting tunnelling work in mid-2000 for completion in 2004. Second phase to follow two years later. Public finance with a mixture of local and central funding. August 1999.

Proposed 3.9 km extension of C4 line in rock from Prague 7 at Holesovice railway station to Prague 8 satellite town north of the city using NATM techniques. Five stations, one of which is cut-and-cover and four to be mined. Part twin tunnel, part single. In final design for 2001 construction start. Line D also in preliminary design. Visit www.metrostav.cz December 1999.

Two phases of construction to be financed partially by loans from European Investment Bank. First 4 km-long phase has received $75 million towards estimated total cost of $220 million, and another $75 million will follow later. Visit www.subterra.cz April 2000.

Line C comprising twin 7.5 km drill/blast tubes beneath river and up hill in granite/gneiss to be constructed with six underground stations and one cut and cover station, all 600 m-long, starting June, 2001 for completion end-2003. Visit www.atlascopco.com 19/01.

Second phase tenders for line C extension in preparation with a view to early-2003 construction start and 2007 completion. Visit www.metrostav.cz 35/01.

Call for bids, deadline 16th January, 2004 for construction of section Ladvi-Letnany of metro line C in the northeast of the city, adding 4.6 km track and 3 stations. The EIB granted a €75 million loan. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=207441-2003, OJ S 233, or contact Ing. Horsky, 3rd floor, Room 327 or Ing. Tomecek, 3rd floor, Room 301, Inzenyring dopravních staveb, Na Moráni 360/3, 12801 Prague 2, fax +420 236083252. Read E-News Weekly 41/2003. 50/03.

Skanska, Metrostav and Subterra have been contracted to extend metro line C in Prague. The assignment involves a 4.6 km extension in northern Prague from Ladvi station to Letnany, including three new stations. About 40% of the stretch is through tunnels. Skanska's share amounts to about CZK3.6 billion, which is 37% of the entire project valued at about CZK 9.8 billion. Work begins in May for completion scheduled in end 2007. Visit www.skanska.com, www.metrostav.cz and www.subterra.cz 20/04.

The 4.6 km Latvi-Letnany extension to Line C awarded to Skanska, Metrostav and Subterra includes 2,195 m of 60-100 sq m double-track tunnel, 2 x 65 m of single-track tunnel and 2,356 m of cut-and-cover tunnel including the stations. Three cut-and-cover underground stations: Prosek I (211 m-long x 20 m-wide x 5.6 m-high), Prosek II (205 m x 20 m x 10.6 m) and Letnany (591 m x 25 m x 10.3 m). Letnany station includes the tracks for the depot. Geology will consist of claystone, marlstone and sandstone. The planned excavation methods are drill/blast (1,350 m), roadheader (910 m) and cut-and-cover (2,356 m). Lining in accordance with NATM with shotcrete without fibres, rock bolts, lattice girders and wire mesh. Dump trucks will be used for the mucking-out. Tunnelling to start in September 2004. 22/04.

Czech Republic

Prague - cz/14

Highway

Inner ring road connecting Prague 6 to Prague 7 through Mrasovka Hill and on south to Bohemia. 1.2 km-long western tube under construction from both ends using NATM techniques in Prague black shale. Metrostav is advancing from the Severni portal using excavators on a three-compartment top heading following a crown pilot drive, while Subterra is developing cautiously past numerous obstacles in harder rock from the less-accessible Jizni portal using an Atlas Copco L2C drillrig. Both are using L2C drillrigs for rockbolting and erecting lattice girders with mesh and shotcrete. Extensive use of Swellex bolts. More details from www.okruhsmichov.cz December 1999.

Czech Republic
Pilsen - cz/15
Highway
Twin-tube 700 m Valik tunnel on D5 highway to be driven in dolomitic limestone using NATM with drill/blast starting 2001. December 1999.

Notice of intention to construct Valik tunnel on D5 motorway for Czech Highways Directorate, Prague, fax +420 28400 9194. Visit www.czech.cz 36/01.

Valik tunnel under construction by Metrostav using unique concept in which central buttress of reinforced concrete supported on micropiles is installed in pilot drive between parallel tubes in 330 m-long natural tunnel. Four-phase sequential excavation of main tunnels using NATM techniques with Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer L2 C drillrig. Visit www.metrostav.cz and www.boomer-rig.com 50/04.

Contractor Metrostav constructing 380 m-long Valik twin-tube tunnel on Prague-Nuremberg motorway D5 in soft ground with reinforced concrete buttress installed in central pilot prior to excavation of top heading and bench in main drives using Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer L2 C and Swellex rockbolts. Visit www.atlascopco.com and www.metrostav.cz 19/05.

Denmark
Greenland - dk/13
BuksefjordHydro
Drill/Blast
16 km of tunnels from Lake Kang to Buksefjord for first hydropower plant on the island. 10.6 km x 28 sq m hydraulic tunnel and 1.3 km x 28 sq m tailrace. Turbine hall 63 m long, 12 m wide and 21 m maximum height to house 2 x 15 MW turbines. Access to powerhouse is 590 m x 32 sq m, plus two 9 sq m feedwater tunnels, 720 m-long and 1,150 m-long. Nuuk-kraft consortium using Atlas Copco Boomers in hard, metamorphic rock with quartz content of 30 - 50 %. May 1992.

Ecuador
Agouyan - ec/12
Vianini-Entrecanales using Atlas Copco drillrigs. May 1995.

Germany

Thuringia - de/13

Motorway

Construction of new A71 motorway from Thuringia to Bavaria underway with twin-tube 7.9 km-long Rennsteig to be longest highway tunnel in Germany. Started in August, 1998 on 45 month schedule by jv of Ed Zublin, Wayss & Freytag and Bickhart-Bau using six Atlas Copco drillrigs in porphyr mixed with sandstone and quartz with a compressive strength of 150-200 Mpa. Hochwald tunnel 1 km-long being driven by jv of Heilit+Woerner and Jager, and 874 m-long Alte Burg by jv of Schachtbau Nordhausen and Leonhard Weiss. 3.1 km-long Berg Bock tunnel will be driven by jv of Walter Bau and Max Bogl. All tunnels use rockbolts, shotcrete and steel arches. Sept 1999. www.miningandconstruction.com

1.2 km-long Eichelberg will be fourth twin-tube tunnel to be built on the A71 Erfurt-Schweinfurt route. Cross-sections of 70-100 sq m in limestone using drill/blast with rockbolts, shotcrete, and steel arches. In design by Krebs & Kiefer, Heidelberg. Tender dates to be announced at http://ted.eur-op.eu.int October 2000.

Invitation to prequalify, deadline 13th August, 2001, for engineering design contract for 10.2 km-long motorway section with 3 km-long tunnel. Contact Deges, Berlin, fax +49 30202 43692. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int and www.thuri.de 32/01.

Open tendering, deadline 28th November, 2001 to equip the 890 m Alte Burg tunnel with lighting, ventilation, loudspeakers and surveillance cameras. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int, document S 204-139507, or contact Deges, Berlin, fax +49 30 20243790. Visit www.a71.de 44/01.

Award to Siemens Gebäudetechnik of technical equipment supply and installation in the 7.9 km Rennsteig tunnel on the A71 highway for DM72.5 million. Comprises lighting, ventilation, cameras, loudspeakers, and electric cables. 52/01.

Accelerated negotiated procedure, deadline 22nd July, 2002 for engineering services regarding the twin Eichelberg tunnel on highway A 71. West bore is 1,119 m-long and east bore is 1,099 m-long.
Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=101141-2002, OJ S 129, or contact DEGES, Berlin, fax +49 3020243692. Visit www.a71.de 29/02.

Accelerated negotiated procedure, deadline 7th October, 2002 for engineering services for the construction of the Eichelberg tunnel on the A71 highway. West tube 1,119.5 m and east tube 1,099.5 m. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=144649-2002, OJ S 183, or contact DEGES, Berlin, fax +49 3020243692. 39/02.

Open call for bids, deadline 29th October, 2002 for construction of the Eichelberg tunnel on the A71 highway. West tube 1,119.5 m and east tube 1,099.5 m. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=148209-2002, OJ S 188, or contact DEGES, Berlin, fax +49 3020243790. 40/02.

Construction of the Eichelberg tunnel, a 1.1 km twin tube on highway A71 section Meiningen south to Berkach has been awarded to a JV of Walter Bau and Walter+Heilit Verkehrswegebau for €47.6 million. Visit www.walter-bau.de and www.a71.de 08/03.

Negotiated procedure, deadline 6th March, 2004 for engineering services for section Thuringia/Steinfurt province border-Soemmerda east of the A71 motorway between Oberroeblingen and Erfurt. Includes the 2 x 1,725 m-long Schmuecke tunnel. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=023045-2004, OJ S 26, or contact Deges, Berlin, fax +49 3020243692. 08/04.

Negotiated procedure, deadline 15th August, 2004 for engineering services for the Dreieck Oberroeblingen (A38)-Erfurt (B7) section, including the 2 x 1,725 m Schmuecke tunnel. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=115714-2004, OJ S 135, or contact DEGES, Berlin, fax +49 3020243692. 31-32/04.

Preinformation notice for equipment of the Eichelberg two-lane tunnel on the A71 motorway, section Erfurt-Schweinfurt, including the east and west tubes, 1,100 m and 1,120 m respectively. The assignment includes medium and low voltage, wiring, lighting, ventilation, video, emergency call stations, radio, fire fighting, etc. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=141009-2004, OJ S 163, or contact DEGES, Berlin, fax +49 3020243691. 36/04.

Open call for tenders, deadline 22nd February, 2005 for technical equipment (power supply, lighting, cables, switchgears, ventilation, video monitoring, fire alarm system, emergency call niches, radio transmission, etc.) of the 2 x 1.1 km Eichelberg tunnel on highway A71 Erfurt-Schweinfurt. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=002531-2005, OJ S 3, or contact DEGES, Berlin, fax +49 3020243691 or 3020243790. 02/05.

Open call for bids, deadline 12th April, 2005 for construction of a section of motorway A71, 3,310 m and 2,672 m, including the 2 x 1,725 m-long Schmuecke tunnel. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=038342-2005, OJ S 40, or contact DEGES, Berlin, fax +49 3020243691 or 3020243490. E-mail kupferschmid@deges.de 10/05.

RWE Solutions Austria secured a EUR5.6 million contract for technical outfit (power supply, lighting, cables, switchgears, ventilation, video monitoring, fire alarm system, emergency call niches, radio transmission, etc.) of the 2 x 1.1 km Eichelberg tunnel on highway A71 Erfurt-Schweinfurt. Visit www.rwesolutions.at 29/05.

Baresel, Alfred Kunz and H. Kirchner secured a EUR99 million contract to build two sections of motorway A71 (3,310 m and 2,672 m), including the 2 x 1,725 m-long Schmuecke tunnel. Visit www.baresel.de and www.kunz-gmbh.de 38/05.

Germany

Engelberg - de/15

Highway

Base tunnel comprises twin 2.5 km tubes, of which 1.8 km driven by traditional sprayed concrete techniques in keuper gypsum generally at excavated cross-section of 200 sq m to provide a three-lane highway in each direction. Each main face was split into seven sections with two sidewall drives excavated in parallel in advance followed by excavation and support of the crown section. The bench and base sections were then excavated and secured in half sections.

A 3 mm-thick polyethylene membrane has been placed between the outer shotcrete and the standard 70 cm inner concrete shells. The excavated cross-section was increased to 265 m and the inner shell thickened to 1 m to 3 m through a 250 m anhydrite/corrensite zone in order to withstand swelling pressures. A fault was encountered near the centre of the tunnel accompanied by 30 lit/sec water inflows. Seven crosspassages have been installed at 300 m intervals as emergency escape routes. Bilfinger & Berger report job complete and open to traffic. Principle equipment Normet shotcrete jumbos, Atlas Copco drillrigs, Volvo A25 dumptrucks. Contact through www.bub.de and for equipment see www.normet.fi and www.atlascopco.com March 2000.

Maharashtra - in/12

Water Transfer

Sina Madha, Krishna Valley

Drill/Blast

Project to link the Bhima and Sina rivers under way by B T Patil & Sons from two portals 20 km apart and five shafts using conventional drill/blast in basalt. Section 7 m-wide and 6.7 m-high to crowned roof. Progress averaging 1 km/month with 7 km completed to Sept 1998. Completion scheduled for end-Nov 2000. Indian record set for drill/blast in July with 173 m achieved on one face. Nov 1998.

Some 10.5 km excavated to March, 1999 averaging 1 km/month off 12 faces, with a best month of 1,183 m. More information fax Mr Kulkarni +91 831 22121. Sept 1999.

Contractor employing 650 drillers using 150 handheld Atlas Copco RH 656-4W pneumatic rockdrills mounted on BMK 62S jacklegs working off twelve faces using two-deck platforms with five drillers at floor level and two on each deck. Major muckshifting operation involving 2.5 million t hoisted by twin 15 t, 150 hp drums on gantry cranes at each shaft. Blasting pattern is double wedge with 106 x 3.6 m holes. Drilling takes 3.5 h and charge comprises special gelatine with primer at back of hole and packaged ANFO stemmed with 1.2 m of wet clay. Contractor will employ most of its labour force on an upcoming contract for a 9 km tunnel, but is actively seeking overseas work involving handheld equipment. More information from patsonbt@blr.vsnl.net.in October 1999.

India

Himachal Pradesh - in/18

Nathpa Jakri

Hydro

Drill/Blast

Run of river 1,500 MW project with 27 km x 11 m-diameter circular headrace tunnel developed by jv of Impregilo and Hindustan Construction Company using nine Atlas Copco 352 and three 353E equipped with 1440 Rocket drifters. Work continuing on barrage and desilting chambers by jv of Continental and Foundation Corporation of Canada. Powerhouse excavation completed by Jaiprakash Industries together with 700 m tailrace. Alimak raise climbers in use in penstock development. On target for commissioning 2001. October 1999.

India

Baspa - in/20

Hydro

Drill/Blast

Private power project being developed by Jaiprakash Industries for commissioning 2002. Powerhouse excavation complete and headrace tunnel well underway using Atlas Copco Boomer 352s. October 1999.

India

Kashmir - in/21

Dul Hasti

Hydro

Drill/Blast

Jaiprakash getting underway at Jammu using nine Atlas Copco L2D Boomers equipped with 1838 Rocket drifters. October 1999.

India

Maharashtra - in/22

Arphal

Water Transfer

Drill/Blast

Kvaerner Cementation India underway on 16.6 km, 30 sq m cross section arched, unsupported tunnel in basalt using two Atlas Copco Boomer 281 drillrigs on four faces accessed from two adits. Both portals sub-contracted. More from info@kvaerner.com . October 1999.

India
Maharashtra - in/25

Irrigation

Italy

Sicily - it/17

Highway

Palermo-Messina

Roadheader

Six twin 67 m2 tunnels ranging between 483 m and 1836 m in length. February 1999.

Construction well underway on last 11 km of 37 km of two-lane, twin-tube tunnels to complete Palermo-Messina A20 coastal motorway: Halaesa 595 m; Tusa 2.1 km; Piano Paradiso 2.88 km; Pollina 1.04 km; Torre Finale 1.1 km; Cipollazzo 518 m; Cozzo Minneria 2.5 km; and Piana. Visit www.autostradesiciliane.it and www.atlascopco.com 15/01.

Italy
Brenner - it/24

Motorway

Drill/Blast

2.2 km twin tube Mori west tunnel awarded to Cariboni Paride to commence September, 1999. Support by rockbolts and steel arches. August 1999.

Cariboni established east portals of 2 x 2.2 km, 90 sq m Mori bypass tunnels with umbrella arches of 40-44 x 110 mm x 12 m micropiles for first 36 m, and then drill/blast using Atlas Copco WL3C computerised drillrig with ABC in 80% sedimentary and 20% volcanic strata. 4.5 m rounds with steel arches, rockbolts, mesh, and reinforced shotcrete. 350 m advance to date. Contract for hydrogeological studies for Brenner base tunnel itself awarded to jv of ILF and Geoconsulting International for completion end-2001. Visit www.cariboni.it and www.atlascopco.com 14/01.

Luxembourg

Markusbierg - lu/12

Highway

Awarded to Razel. Sept 1999.

Extension of Autoroute de la Sarre to connect Saarbrucken in Germany to Luxembourg includes viaduct across Moselle river and 1.585 km twin tube in soft dolomite at 5 % downgrade on continuous 1.8 km-radius curve with three crosspassages. Razel commenced driving 57 sq m top heading November, 1998 from upper portal only using face excavators and hydraulic hammers with Atlas Copco Boltec 435H drilling rockbolt holes and setting Swellex bolts in the crown at 11 off per metre advance and up to another eight in the face as temporary support. No water flushing possible because of hole erosion. Top heading about to reach halfway and 1.8 m-high bench ready to start. Full section will be 80 sq m. Shotcreting using two Normet Spraymec jumbos. 20,000 x 4 m Swellex will be used to complete job. Information from amtunnel@Pt.lu December 1999.

Norway

Haugeland - no/12

Propane Storage

Drill/Blast

Karsto

Two caverns 20m-wide x 190m-long x 33m-high in phyllite, rockbolted and shotcreted. Total excavation 250,000m3. Contract includes 4km of 30m² section cooling water tunnel and 1km of 65m² section road tunnel. Contractor: AF Spesialprosjekt using Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer 353 rigs with COP 1838 drills, one with extended reach. Bever controls for contouring. Caverns excavated on three benches with two faces at each level. 1,200m³ blasted in each round. Completion end-1998. Dec 1998.

Norway
Hordaland - no/13

Highway

Folgefonn

Drill/Blast

11 km twin tube being driven by Hordaland authority's tunnelling department reported having advanced 1.5 km by end-Sept 1998 with breakthrough planned for 2000. Nov 1998.

Breakthrough beneath glacier reported between Veidekke driving 4 km from one end and Statens Vegvesen driving 7 km from other end, using Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer 353. Visit www.vegvesen.no/hordaland and www.atlascopco.com October 2000.

Norway

Hitra-Froya - no/16

Strait Crossing

Drill/Blast

5.3 km-long connection under construction by Selmer for Statens Vegvesen between the islands of Hitra and Froya located west of Trondheim to complete all-weather link to mainland. Development of 55 m² two-lane single tube from both portals using two Atlas Copco 353S-1838 drillrigs equipped with Bever Control which handle all face, probehole and rockbolt holes. Maximum advance in each heading 110 m/week in predominantly gneissic rocks with a few bands of limestone/marble. 3.6 km subsea at maximum depth 150 m. 8,000 cement-grouted rebar spiles installed over the crown in umbrellas with 2-3 m overlap in poor ground which comprises 3 % of alignment. 10,000 m² shotcrete and 250 linear m of concrete lining expected, together with 200 linear m of floor concrete. 120,000 m of probeholes drilled to date. Work commenced February, 1998 from Froya portal using slurry explosives under wet conditions and March, 1998 from Hitra using Anfo under dryer conditions. There is an overall cost balance between the two types of explosive: slurry is more expensive but less noxious so requires less ventilation and offers faster re-entry. There is no detectable difference in their relative blasting efficiencies. May 1999.

Norway

Drammen - no/17

E18 Highway

Five tunnels totalling 3.8 km and excavated volume of 253,000 m³ under construction in sandstone with some syenite to duallise E18 south of Drammen towards Kristiansand. Contractor AF Spesialprosjekt using Atlas Copco 353 drillrigs with Bever Control achieving 22 rounds/week apiece including all rockbolt drilling. Orsta bolts and shotcreting with steel fibre using Meyco equipment. May 1999.

Open call for tenders, deadline 17th January, 2005 for construction planning and engineering design for the 4 km Frydenhaug-Eik section of highway E18, including a 1.8 km-long 9.5 m-wide single-tube tunnel parallel to the existing Kleivene tunnel and emergency exit tunnels for a total length of approximately 650 m. Geology is mostly solid rock and granite. Drill/blast method with a combination of rock bolts and shotcrete for support. For frost and water insulation, the inside of the tunnel will be covered with a lining of concrete elements. Loaders and dumper trucks for mucking-out. Planned construction period from early 2006 to late 2007. Estimated cost of all road section is NOK645 million (2004 value). Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=197597-2004, OJ S 229, or contact Statens vegvesen, Arendal, fax +47 32210161. E-mail sor@vegvesen.no 49/04.

Open call for tenders, deadline 10th January, 2006 for construction of section Frydenhaug-Eik on the E18, contract north. A new southbound lane from Bangeloakka to Kobbervikdalen will be constructed, including the new Kleivene tunnel. The single-tube tunnel is 1,880 m long and will carry two lanes. Southbound traffic will use the new tunnel while northbound traffic will use the old tunnel. The tunnel width is 9.5 m. The geology is porphyric stone (50 m) and granite. The excavation method will be drilling and blasting. Bolts and shotcrete with steel fibres will be used for support. In unstable areas, steel arches may also be used. Loaders and dumper trucks for rock haulage. The excavation start is scheduled for 15th March, 2006 for completion in December 2007. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=206228-2005, OJ S 209, or contact Statens vegvesen Region south, Drammen, fax +47 32210161. E-mail roakje@vegvesen.no 47/05.

With NOK227 million, Mesta is the low bidder for the Freydenhaug-Eik section of the E18. This is NOK48 million less than Veidekke (NOK275.5 million). Then follow NCC Construction (NOK281.2 million) and Skanska (NOK283.6 million). The project includes the 1,880 m-long Kleivene single-tube tunnel. Click no/17 for more. Visit www.mesta.no 14/06.

Open call for tenders, deadline 14th June, 2006 for engineering services for the construction of a new motorway bridge, the new Kleivene tunnel (1,880 m) and connecting roads, and Ovre Sund bridge. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=082435-2006, OJ S 78, or contact Statens vegvesen Region south, Arendal, fax +47 32210161. E-mail bjorn.kleppesto@vegvesen.no 18/06.

Norway
Skatestraum - no/27
Fjord Crossing
1.89 km-long x 54 sq m two-lane fjord crossing to connect island of Bremanger to mainland under construction by Statens Vegvesen using Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer WL3 C drillrig in gneiss, phyllite, serpentite and some banded gneiss with quartz. Single 300 m-long exploration hole directionally drilled from shore to intersect alignment. Six 27 m-long probeholes maintained with minimum 7 m overlap, and grouting undertaken if water make exceeds 10 lit/min in any single hole. Four 2.4 m-long Orsta Stahl grouted rebar rockbolts with 1.5 cu m steel fibre reinforced shotcrete per metre advance. Visit www.atlascopco.com and www.vegvesen.no/sognogfjordane Sept 2000.

Norway

Sogn og Fjordane - no/42
Tyin Hydropower

1.54 km-long access tunnel completed June, 2002 and powerhouse excavation underway in granite. 2.7 km-long x 46 sq m tailrace under development for breakthrough June, 2003 using Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer WL3 C to drill 90 holes/round at 5.2 m-long x 48 mm-diameter under 1.5 km rock cover. 12-15 resin anchored bolts/round, 2.4 or 4.0 m-long, with shotcrete. Bi-directional drives underway from 350 m-long access tunnel at mid-point of headrace, using Atlas Copco 353 S drillrigs and Cat 963B loaders with Gjerstad side tipping buckets stationed at each face, with single crew alternating. Granite towards powerstation, phyllite towards lake. Surge shaft chamber complete, and Skanska Raise Boring mobilizing refurbished Robbins 97 RLC to bore 463 m-deep x 4.04 m-diameter shaft. 2.4 km-long draw off tunnel between Lakes Tyin and Toroholmen underway using Schaeff ITC 312 loader and Moxy MT25 trucks. Project on schedule. Visit www.selmer-skanska.no and www.skanskaraiseboring.com. Read E-News Weekly # 20. 46/02.

Total of 4,500 rounds blasted to remove 680,000 cu m of rock, with some 27,086 rockbolts and 15,100 cu m shotcrete installed by 160 workers. Excavation completed during 2003, with the final blast in the tailrace end-May, and the headrace from Biskopsvatn to the power station breaking through on 10th July. The draw-off tunnel at Torolmen was finished at the end of July, with the lake tap left ready drilled for blasting, scheduled to take place in mid-2004. The piercing of Ardalsvatn from the tailrace will be carried out in Spring, 2004. Nearly 21 km of tunnel and 45,000 cu m of powerstation were excavated in just 19 months, involving 600,000 manhours, without a single serious accident. More from magnar.myklatun@skanska.no or visit www.boomer-rig.com 09/04.

Peru

Chinango - pe/11

Hydro

Drill/blast

US$200 million

Project combines two stations in the remote Chanchamayo Valley region at Yanango and Chimay, the first for completion mid-2000 and the second a year later. Drill/blast contractors on the Tarma, Yanango access and valves chamber exit tunnels are Grana y Montero using predominantly Atlas Copco equipment in andesite. Jose Cartellone Construcciones Civiles driving 9.6 km using TBM from powerhouse location and drill/blast from an adit 7.5 km upstream. June 1999.

Breakthrough reported on 4.3 km-long Chimay drive by 5.7 m-diameter Robbins TBM in ten months at rates of up to 190 m/week. Several areas of weak rock were encountered. Drill/blast drives also completed earlier this year. Visit www.robbinstbm.com May 2000.

Peru

Cavimochic - pe/13

Hydro

Second stage involving 14 km of tunnels and 50 km of canals underway by contractor Chimu Consortium. Mainly Atlas Copco Boomers achieving 265 m/month. May 1995.

Portugal

Madeira - pt/11

Road and Highway

Five tunnels up to 1,269 m-long under construction at Porto Moniz near San Vicente. Contractor Construtora do Tamega. Also 3.1 km-long Encumeada through Serra de Agua mountain being built by contractor EPOS and another three tunnels at Ponta do Sol totalling 1.9 km are being driven by Avelino Fariha & Agrela. Another three tunnels between Funchal and Ribeira Brava total 3.9 km. February 1999.

Construtora do Tamega reports it is constructing nine tunnels on the highway between Funchal and the airport in association with Zagope. Two of these have 200 sq m section. October 1999.

Open invitation to tender for construction of six road tunnels, deadline 23rd October, 2000. Contact RAM, fax +351 291 225112 or visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int for details. August 2000.

Portugal

Castrodaire - pt/19

Highway

Drill/Blast

Contractor EPOS driving twin 900 m x 75 m² tubes in weathered granite using umbrella drilling where necessary. Two Atlas Copco L2C drillrigs carry out all drilling for blasting, rockbolts, and umbrellas, the latter using 64 mm bits on extension steel. Steel arches, Swellex 4 m rockbolts and shotcrete form main support. More information from pdc@epos.pt . October 1999.

Slovakia

Branisko - sk/11

Highway

TBM/NATM

Pilot drives for twin-tube 4.8 km Branisko and 2.185 km Ovoiarsko road tunnels under way, and site investigation in progress for 7.4 km Visonovo Martin tunnel, longest in country. May 1998.

On D1 highway from Bratislava to Jilina in north central region, first of two 4.8 km tubes has been completed and concrete lining is in progress using formworks. Four Atlas Copco Boomer 352s were employed in south tube, two in top headings and two on benches, for a full arched section of 96 sq m in granite with primary support of bolts and shotcrete. Original pilot drive retained for use as emergency escape route until north tube is driven, possibly in 2010. The 20-year plan for Slovakia shows a demand for 21 tunnels with a total length of 42.3 km. December 1999.

Slovakia
Bratislava - sk/13
Highway
Tendering for 1.5 km-long twin-tube Sitina D2 tunnel in faulted granite due year 2000. Consultant Terraprojekt for Slovak Roads Administration. August 1999.

A Skanska / Taisei Corporation joint venture has won the contract to build the Sitina twin tunnel in Bratislava for Slovenska sprava ciest, the Slovakian road administration. The tunnel will link the highways D1 to Brno and D2 to Vienna. The two tunnel tubes will each be 1,450 m in length. The project also includes three multi-level interchanges, connecting roads and six bridges. The contract is valued at SKr770 million. The project will be carried out by Skanska's Czech subsidiary, Skanska CZ, in a 50/50 consortium with Taisei. The tunnel construction is being financed through loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Work will begin in April, with completion scheduled for March 2007. NATM to be used. Visit www.skanska.com, www.taisei.co.jp/english/index.html and www.ssc.sk 14/03.

Twin-tube Sitina tunnel being driven as top heading and bench in tectonically disrupted crystalline rocks consisting of biotite and mica granodiorites with some granite and pegmatite veins by subcontractor Bespa. Full excavation sections up to 100 sq m with 25-54 m between axes. Five crosspassages to be excavated. False tunnels well advanced at north end. Atlas Copco drillrigs and Meyco Potenza shotcrete jumbos. Visit www.banske-stavby.sk and www.boomer-rig.com 49/04.

Contracting jv of Skanska and Taisei, with Banske Stavby subsidiary Bespa as subcontractor driving 1.4 km-long twin-tube Sitina tunnel on motorway D2 on curved alignment at up to 100 sq m section in crystalline rock. NATM techniques in five classes, using drill/blast for classes 1-3 and mechanical excavation with invert arch for classes 4-5. Umbrella drilling throughout alignment using Boodex and Symmetrix systems due to shallow overburden and blocky ground. Visit www.banske-stavby.sk and www.atlascopco.com 18/05.

Slovenia

Trojane - si/13
Motorway
Four twin-tube highway tunnels each around 1 km long under construction in three separate contracts in schists, schistose clays and sandstone to complete Maribor-Ljubljana motorway. Four Atlas Copco 352 Boomers and one L2C Rocket Boomer in use. Visit www.atlascopco.com/rde May 2000.

General procurement notice for electrical and mechanical installation works for the Trojane and Podmilj tunnels, lengths 5,711 m and 1,168 m respectively, on Vransko-Blagovica section. Estimated value €15.1 million. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=049138-2003, OJ S 57, or contact Oto Rubinic, DARS, Ljubljana, fax +386 13068206. Also visit www.dars.si 13/03.

Call for bids, deadline 20th April, 2004 for electrical and mechanical installation works in the Trojane and Podmilj tunnels on the Celje-Ljubljana motorway. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=046812-2004, OJ S 55, or contact DDC Consulting Engineering, Kotnikova 40, 1000 Ljubljana. Tel. +386 13068204, fax +386 13068206. 14/04.

Spain
Asturias - es/15

Highway

Shortlist for the design/construct contract for the section of N-632 from Infanzon to Grases with two tunnels 1.27 km and 2.41 km long comprises Sacyr/Obras Subterraneas/Necso; ACS/Ferrovial; FCC/Dragados/Obras y Proyectos; and OHL/Corsan/Corviam/Tableros y Puentes. Announcement 12th December, 2000. Visit www.mma.es November 2000.

Award of 3-year construction contract for 9 km-long Grases to Infazon section of Gijon-Villaviciosa motorway to Dragados/FCC including twin-tube 1.2 km Branaviella and 2.3 km Nievares tunnels. Visit www.dragados.es 05/01.

Work control and assistance contract won by Eptisa for €3 million to supervise the Grases-Infanzón section of highway N-632 including the 4,800 m Niévares tunnel. Twin tube 11.8 m-wide to be driven by sequential excavation using NATM through Jurassic rocks consisting of limestone, dolomites and marls. Rockbolts, fibre-reinforced shotcrete and TH steel arches. Visit www.eptisa.com 44/01.

Central government approved 6.8 km Variante de Navia on western Autovía del Cantábrico for Ptas11.9 billion with time frame of 32 months. Includes 850 m tunnel under Mount Jarrio. 45/01.

Open tendering, deadline 13th February, 2002 for the 6 km Variante de Navia on the Autovía del Cantábrico including a twin tunnel (871 + 826 metres) under Mount Jarrio. Cost of €72 million. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int, document S 234-160924 or contact Ministry of Development, fax +34 915978330. 51/01.

Navia variant on Autovía del Cantábrico awarded to FCC. The 6.4 km section includes a dual 850 m tunnel under Mount Jarrio. Visit www.fcc.es 19/02.

Open call for bids, deadline 2nd October, 2002 for work management of the Variante de Navia on the Cantabrian highway which includes a 2 x 850 m tunnel. Value €2 million. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=127140-2002, OJ S 158, or contact Ministry of development, Madrid, fax +34 915978537 or +34 915978470. 35/02.

Iberinsa and Ideam have been awarded for €1.75 million the work control and construction management of the Navia bypass on the Cantabrian highway, including a twin 850 m tunnel under Mount Jarrio. Visit www.iberinsa.es 14/03.

Intecsa-Inarsa has won a €1.26 million contract for the design of the Otur-Villapedre section of the Cantabrian highway, including a 1.2 km tunnel under Mount Infernón. Visit www.intecsa-inarsa.es 23/03.

Sweden

Bothnia - se/16

Railway

Proposed rail link between Sundsvall and Umea will require three or four hardrock, drill/blast tunnels totalling 10 km. Alignment still subject to change. December 1999.

Contractor Lemminkainen reports a start on the first 1.1 km-long tunnel of the proposed Bothnia railway using its Tamrock three-boom Data Titan drillrig at a single face from the north end. The new 190 km track will run northwards along the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia from Nyland through Ornskoldsvik, Husum, and Nordkoping to Umea. Cement slurry is to be injected into the gneissose granite with amphibolite to prevent water seepage, and the entire tunnel will be lined with shotcrete. Several more tunnels totalling 30 km will be required, and a new round of bidding is due soon. Visit www.sandviktamrock.com for more equipment information. March 2000.

Botniabanen AB responsible for finance, detailed design, construction, testing and leasing of the $955 million Botnia railway line, which is planned for commissioning early in 2006. Swedish state owns 91 % of the company, with four municipalities holding the remainder. $7.9 million Kalldal tunnel, under construction by Lemminkainen, is located 10 km north of Oerskoeldsvik. It is being driven mainly in sedimentary gneiss at a width of 8 m and cross-section of 72.3 sq m, and will have an operational height of 7 m above track level. Visit www.lemminkainen.fi March 2000.

Lemminkainen reports breakthrough on 1.1 km-long Kalldal tunnel through dolerite, granite, and gneiss. Contract for 1.26 km-long drill/blast Hjolta tunnel in good quality granite awarded to AF Spesialprosjeckt, value $5.7 million, to start August, 2000 using Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer 353 for completion February, 2002 using selective bolting and shotcrete finish. Visit www.atlascopco.com Sept 2000.

Government approval for 120 km-long southern section of line with 14 tunnels from Nylan to Husum to start construction 2002 for completion 2006. Overall, Botnia line will be 190 km-long with 25 km of tunnels. Visit www.banverket.se 33/01.

Finnish contractor Lemminkainen has received a FIM100 million construction contract for the 1,600 m Stanneberg tunnel in Ornskoldsvik. The tunnel construction will involve demanding ground freezing and jet grouting techniques and is expected to take some two years. Visit www.botniabanan.banverket.se 47/01.

Periodic information notice, deadline 18th October, 2002 for civil engineering work for the 32 km Offersjön-Bjällstaån section of the Bothnia line, including the Namntall tunnel (5,985 m) and Björnböles tunnel (5,160 m). Cross section 70 sq m. Drill/blast excavation. Support with rockbolts and shotcrete. Design and build contract. Award in March 2003 for work start in August. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=145399-2002, OJ S 184, or contact Botniabanan, Örsnköldsvik, fax +46 660294909. E-mail staffan.ericson@botniabanan.se and karin.vestin@botniabanan.se. More in E-News Weekly # 24. 41/02.

Skanska has secured contract E 3541 for design and construction of section Offersjön-Bjällstaån (31.8 km), including the two longest tunnels on the line in Namntallhöjden (6 km) and Björnböleshöjden (5.2 km), both single-tube tunnels with a 25 m² parallel service tunnel. Contract value: SEK1.3 billion. Time frame for construction: November 2003-spring 2007. Visit www.botniabanan.se and www.skanska.com 46/03.

NCC has received a SEK201 million order for the construction of a railway section including a 965 m-long tunnel through the Asberg mountain in central Ornskoldsvik. This tunnel is for single-track traffic, including also a 400 m-long service tunnel. Work will commence at the beginning of December and the project is scheduled for completion in July 2005. Read E-News Weekly 24/2002. Visit www.botniabanan.se and www.ncc.info 48/03.

Sweden
Halmstad - se/18
Gas Storage
Vertical cylindrical cavern 50 m high x 35 m diameter with spherical domed roof and rounded base in 180 Mpa gneiss with some amphibolite with 115 m rock cover under construction by Skanska. Around I km of access tunnels at 28 sq m cross-section and 1:7 downgrade driven using Atlas Copco Robot Boomer 185 and Stabilator shotcrete jumbos. Surface connecting shaft raise bored at 1 m diameter. Contract value $21 million for completion late-2001. Cavern will be steel lined to store 10 million cu m of gas at 25 Mpa pressure. Visit www.skanska.com June 2000.

Switzerland

Lotschberg - ch/18

AlpTransit Railway

Located at Goppenstein, 4.1 km Ferden access adit to be driven through gneisses and schists in the Aare massif. Also Fystertella ventilation tunnel 1.735 km and 365 m shaft to be raise bored at 1.8 m and enlarged to 5 m. This will connect via a ventilation chamber to the twin main tunnels. May 1998.

Tenders invited for 9.4 m-diameter single-track tunnel to be driven in three lengths from Mitholz near Frutigen at north end using TBM or drill/blast. Also TBM drives at south end for 3,073 m Steg tunnel, 4,100 m west bore to Ferden and 2,000 m to Raron. February 1999.

Awards expected in August and October, 1999. May 1999.

Contract awarded to jv of Skanska, Rothpletz & Lienhard, Walo Bertschinger and Ilbau for 2 x 7.5 km-long Mittholz central section to commence March, 2000. November 1999.

Steg 3.073 km access tunnel, 4.117 km TBM drive at 9.4 m-diameter, and 2 km-long drill/blast section awarded to Matrans jv comprising Marti, Walter, Porr and Balfour Beatty in equal quarters. Value $160 million. Mitholz jv reported earlier is actually led by Ilbau, and includes Dumez-GTM together with the three other partners already listed. Contract due to be signed February, 2000 at a value reported as $315 million. November 1999.

Open tendering, deadline 4th September, 2000, for construction of 8.5 km of 62 - 78 sq m running tunnels accessed from the base of the developing Ferden adit. The office handling this project is BLS AlpTransit AG, Aarestrasse 38 B, Postfach 3601 Thun, Switzerland, e-mail info@blsat.ch or visit www.alptransit.ch May 2000.

Construction of 1.5 km drill/blast and 9.2 km of 9.4 m-diameter Raron TBM tunnel awarded to Matrans consortium of Marti, Walter, Porr and Balfour Beatty.Visit www.balfourbeatty.com May 2000.

Balfour Beatty, reports that contract value of Raron twin 10.7 km tunnels with optional 1 km extensions is $150 million. Client is BLS AlpTransit AG, a subsidiary of SBB Swiss Railways. Visit www.balfourbeatty.com July 2000.

DBT Mineral Processing GmbH reports that it is supplying three crawler-mounted mobile impact roller type SB 1315R crusher plants to process the 1.8 million cu m of solid rock to be excavated in the two 9.5 km south tunnels and the single 7.4 km north tunnel. The crushers will be fed by side-dump loaders at the face and moved up after every blast. Crushed rock of -200 mm sizing will be discharged onto a telescopic belt conveyor installed in the roof of the tunnel. Visit www.dbtminpro.de July 2000.

Three Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer XL3 C and two L2 C computerised drillrigs to be delivered to Schweizer Alp Transit Consortium (Satco) for driving main running tunnels north and south from base of Mitholz access adit. Visit www.atlascopco.com July 2000.

Award to consortium of Losinger, Prader, Bouyges, Deneriaz, Evequoz, Imboden and Theler of $65 million construction contract for 12 km of tunnel off four faces at Ferden access towards Bern and Valais, starting May, 2001 and completing late-2005. Visit www.blsalptransit.ch 15/01.

Award of $170 million drill/blast contract for 7.1 km-long, 9 m-diameter twin-tube section of Lotschberg base tunnel to Bouygues for completion early-2005. Visit www.blsalptransit.ch 28/01.

BLS AlpTransit reports that 66 km, or 75% of the total tunnel system, has been driven, mainly by drill/blast using Atlas Copco drillrigs. The Adelrain fork cavern has been excavated on the drive N from Mitholz, and the west tube is now underway with 600 m to go to Frutigen portal. The 9.7 km Mitholz drives S are 67% complete, and the Ferden drives N are around 30 %, while Ferden drives S are virtually finished. At the Raron end, the Herrenknecht TBM drives N are well advanced, with the west tube complete, and the 9.7 km east tube 65% complete. The 4.5 km drill/blast west tube portal drive is 76 % complete. Visit www.blsalptransit.ch 13/03.

As of 1st April, 2003, progress at the Lötschberg base tunnel reached 67,493 metres which represents 76.6% of the whole tunnel system. In Frutigen, the first 120 m of the west tube have been excavated. Delicate work is presently under way to drive the east tube under the embankment supporting the existing BLS line.
Heading north from Mitholz, there is only 200 m to go before the junction with the Frutigen west tube. Breakthrough is scheduled for mid-May. Heading south, the tricky karstic area in Doldenhorn, 2.7 km in length, has been crossed without too much trouble. The teams are now gearing up towards the last risky geological area at the Lötschberg with two difficult stretches composed of crumbly materials. More than 2.3 km of internal concrete lining has already been installed in the east tube. The spoil management facilities have processed so far 472,000 tonnes of concrete aggregates.
In Ferden, the southbound east tube has been completed on 2nd April and teams are now concentrating on the north drives. The internal concrete lining (invert and side walls) is being installed. The Steg/Niedergesteln teams are drilling the cross galleries between the west and east tubes. The concrete lining works are due to begin this month heading for Rarogne. The Ferden-bound Herrenknecht TBM, which started in Rarogne, reached km 6.5 while in the west bore, miners have only 1 km to go. Breakthrough is expected for the summer. Visit www.blsalptransit.ch 16/03.

Consortium SATCO tunnelling from Mitholz encountered the Vorlos tunnelling team working from Frutigen on 14th May, 2003. This second breakthrough at the Lötschberg base tunnel took exactly 1,000 calendar days. The tunnel includes a 7,492 m drive, 22 transverse tunnels, a service station and a crossover cavern. The majority of the work (7,024 m) was performed from Mitholz by SATCO using the drill/blast method. Tunnellers working from the north portal in Frutigen drove the first 120 metres of base tunnel in difficult conditions in unconsolidated rock and just 5 m below the BLS rail line which remained in operation while work was in progress. 80% of the total tunnel system has now been driven. Visit www.blsalptransit.ch. 22/03.

Switzerland
Gotthard Base - ch/20

Bodio Section

Railway

Invitation to tender for first 1.2 km of 16.5 km section of proposed 56.7 km AlpTransit. August 1999.

Invitation to tender for construction of two access tunnels in soft ground, lengths 410 m and 420 m. Sept 1999.

Open invitation to tender for lot 554 of Gotthard AlpTransit project involving construction of two running tunnels between Bodio access drift and Faido multi-functional station, deadline 7th December, 2000. Contact Lucerne office, fax +41 917 439737. Visit www.alptransit.ch July 2000.

Award of Faido-Bodio tunnel section to consortium of Zchokke-Locher, Hochtief, CSC and Mayreder. Visit www.alptransit.ch 27/01.

Atlas Copco announced an order for five drill rigs placed by Consorzio TAT (Tunnel AlpTransit), including Zschokke Locher, Alpine Mayreder Bau, Hochtief, CSC, and Impregilo to construct the 16.6 km Bodio and 15.1 km Faido sections of the Gotthard base tunnel. Excavation to start in spring 2002. Atlas Copco will deliver the first part of the order during the first quarter. Visit www.atlascopco.com/rde and www.boomer-rig.com 52/01.

First 380 m from Bodio portal under construction in cut and cover. 1.2 km-long bypass tunnel to main tunnel alignment completed, together with 1.4 km of east tube and 400 m of west tube to provide launch chambers for two 8.83 m-diameter Herrenknecht TBMs which will start in late-2002 on remaining 15 km-long drives to Faido. 27/02.

Difficult ground conditions in Faido-Polmengo are slowing down the Gotthard base tunnel. Progress is reaching only one metre a day instead of the planned 10 metres, or 30 metres a month instead of 300. A few weeks ago, on the site of the Faido multi-functional station, tunnellers encountered a tricky gneissic area consisting of Leventine gneiss and Lukmanier gneiss. The rock yields under the pressure of the 1,400 m mountain cover above, literally transforming the rock into sand. Special support measures have been adopted to install centimetre after centimetre a kind of steel corset at the tunnel crown. The AlpTransit management reckons that a reliable estimate of the cost overruns and delay will not be possible until the summer. To date, progress at Bodio has reached 14% on the east tube and 9% on the west tube. 15/03.

Switzerland
Gotthard Base - ch/21

Faido Section

Railway

Invitation to tender for 2.65 km-long access tunnel at Mairengo. August 1999.

Faido section has shortfall in dumping capacity and can accommodate only 2 million tonnes. Possible solution is a separate 5 km-long muck transport tunnel to meet the advancing east tube from Bodio. Some spoil will be selected by the geologist at the face for crushing as aggregate. October 1999.

Open invitation to tender for lot 452 of Gotthard AlpTransit project involving construction of access galleries and the Faido multi-functional station, deadline 7th December, 2000. Contact Lucerne office, fax +41 412 260600. Visit www.alptransit.ch July 2000.

Award of 14 km-long Faido-Sedrun sections, including Faido emergency station, to TAT consortium of Zschokke Locher, Alpine Mayreder, CSC, Impregilo, and Hochtief. Visit www.zschokke.ch 31/01.

Atlas Copco announced an order for five drill rigs placed by Consorzio TAT (Tunnel AlpTransit), including Zschokke Locher, Alpine Mayreder Bau, Hochtief, CSC, and Impregilo to construct the 16.6 km Bodio and 15.1 km Faido sections of the Gotthard base tunnel. Excavation to start in spring 2002. Atlas Copco will deliver the first part of the order during the first quarter. Visit www.atlascopco.com/rde and www.boomer-rig.com 52/01.

2.65 km-long Faido access completed at 12% downgrade and caverns for multifunctional ststions under excavation using Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer L3C and Cat 966G loaders and 725 dumptrucks. Herrenknecht TBMs from Bodio will pass through Faido and relaunch at 9.3 m-diameter. 27/02.

Switzerland

Hergiswil - ch/27

Highway

Invitation to tender closing 11^th February, 2000 for construction of Kirchenwald tunnel, lot 321, 300,000 cu m excavated volume. Contact Tiefbauamt Nidwalden, fax +41 917 439737. Sept 1999.

Joint venture of Murer/Zchokke/Locher/Gasser awarded 2.5 km x 80 sq m single tube from north portal using Atlas Copco 135H to drill 9 m-long umbrella holes in blocky blue limestone and fines to establish drive. Face split into five separate compartments to counter weak conditions. It is expected that the 400 m advance will take up to two years. Drive from south portal has been awarded for a start end-2000, but contract not yet signed. Visit www.murer.ch for details of earlier contracts. April 2000.

Turkey
Borcka - tr/21
Hydro
Contractor Strabag constructing two 275 m-long x 100 sq m diversion tunnels, 620 m x 12 sq m grouting galleries, 140 m x 25 sq m access gallery, and 955 m x 75 sq m road tunnel for Borcka hydro project using four Atlas Copco drillrigs. Fleet will move 18 km upriver for similar programme at Muratli hydro project. Visit www.strabag.at and www.atlascopco.com December 2000.

United Arab Emirates

First road tunnel in UAE, 1.2 km long connecting east and west coastal areas. Rockbolt and shotcrete lining and possible secondary lining in poor ground affected by hydrothermal alteration. Tenders invited. September 1998.

Drill/blast 1.2 km-long, 9.7 m-high, 13.5 m-wide single-tube natural tunnel underway in gabbro through Oman mountain using shotcrete, rockbolts and lattice girders. Final lining of in-situ concrete. 200 m-long cut-and-cover access at one end. Visit www.halcrow.com and www.boomer-rig.com 37/01.

United States

Nevada - us/16

Lake Mead Intake

Potable Water

Monumental expansion programme to meet the future water needs of Las Vegas includes a lake tap shaft to depth 76 m beneath the lake surface to be bored from a barge; an intake tunnel in jointed and faulted metamorphic rock; 22 x 1.82 m-diameter pumping shafts bored from surface to the 100 m level; and a 3.65 m-diameter subaqueous concrete pipeline. Kiewit Construction has completed the 7.6 m-diameter access shaft to the 115 m level and the 792 m East tunnel has broken through using drill/blast supported by rockbolts and shotcrete at a rate of 6 m/day. Work progressing on the 502 m intake tunnel. Zeni Drilling has completed the first shaft. March 1999.

Atlas Copco 322 twin-boom and basket drilling 3.8 m holes for 2.5 m advance in intake tunnel. Mucking out by Wagner 3.5 Scooptrams. Support by fully-grouted Ingersoll Rand C-tube rockbolts of lengths to 3.8 m and 10 cm of fibre reinforced shotctrete. Forward grouting commenced after 250 m after water inflows of 600 gal/min were encountered. 25 m probe holes have been necessary. The well shafts are being pilot drilled blind to full depth using a reverse circulation rotary drillrig and then reamed to the 1.82 m final diameter to accommodate the 1.3 m diameter pumping columns. June 1999.

Zeni reported completion of all 22 well shafts, including casing and grouting. The bases of the well shafts have been exposed by a top heading through the forebay, and the bench is now underway to complete. Breakthrough of intake tunnel into shaft scheduled for late-November, 1999 and flooding of tunnel in January, 2000. November 1999.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has awarded a USD447 million contract to Impregilo and its US subsidiary S.A. Healy to design and build the so-called third straw to draw water from the Lake Mead reservoir. This is a concrete-lined tunnel 6 m in diameter and approx. 4.8 km long underneath the bed of Lake Mead. Construction should begin before the end of the year and eventually involve a massive tunnel boring machine that will be manufactured in Germany and shipped to the United States. The third straw is slated to go on line by early 2013. Visit www.impregilo.it and www.sahealy.com
The Lake Mead reservoir on the Colorado River behind Hoover Dam supplies about 90% of the water used in and around Las Vegas, but the lake level continues to drop in the face of an eight-year drought. The new intake will allow the authority to continue drawing water even if Lake Mead shrinks below the level of the two existing straws. One or both of the existing inlet pipes would be forced to shut down if the lake level falls below current intakes. Lake Mead is currently at a surface level of about 340 metres above sea level, or about 20 metres above the 320 m level of the original intake. A second intake draws water from 305 metres above sea level. It was completed in 2002, at a cost of about USD80 million. The third intake is expected to draw water from below a 275 m elevation. 13/08.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority is also soliciting bids, deadline 21st April, 2008 for the Lake Mead intake No. 2 connection and modifications project (contract No. 070F 05 C1). The proposed underground works include connection to the existing intake tunnel and modifications to the existing intake structure, including but not limited to a 6.7 m-diameter 116 m-deep shaft, a ventilated building over the top of the shaft, a 4.3 m-wide by 4.9 m-high by 82 m-long modified horse shoe tunnel from shaft to existing IPS-2 tunnel, 4.3 m-wide by 4.9 m-high by 76 m-long modified horse shoe tunnel connection to the future tunnel from intake No. 3, and existing IPS-2 intake modifications. Visit www.snwa.com/nonpvcs/construction_ops/inv/070F05C1.pdf 13/08.

Further technical details are available regarding the Lake Mead intake No. 3 shafts and tunnel project, recently awarded to Vegas Tunnel Constructors, a joint venture of Impregilo and S.A. Healy. The tunnel will primarily be excavated in late Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic bedrock. Of the 4,666 m-long intake tunnel, about 300 metres will be excavated in the Saddle Island Lower Plate (amphibolites, schist, and gneiss) and about 370 metres in the Saddle Island Upper Plate (schist, amphibolites, gneiss, pegmatite, dacite intrusives). The majority of the tunnel drive (about 3,540 metres) is located in the Muddy Creek formation (conglomerate, breccias, sandstone, siltstone and gypsiferous mudstone). As the TBM approaches the intake riser, it will pass through about 370 metres of red sandstone, and the final 90 metres will be in the Callville Mesa basalt.
Except for an erection chamber and starter tunnel that will be excavated by drill and blast, the tunnel will be excavated by a Herrenknecht convertible hybrid tunnel boring machine. The TBM, in open mode, will evacuate the spoils by screw conveyor feeding a continuous tunnel conveyor. The continuous tunnel conveyor will feed two muck skips that are hoisted up the intake access shaft and then moved to a stockpile on site. In closed mode, the screw conveyor is retracted from the cutterhead and the TBM functions in fully slurry mixshield mode, utilizing a separation plant. The tunnel will be supported by a precast, bolted, gasketed tunnel lining with five plus a key segments. Inside diameter will be 6.1 m, and the segment ring will be 1.83 m long. Visit www.herrenknecht.com
Other underground structures include the 180 m-deep intake access shaft with cast-in-place concrete liner with inside diameter of 9 m, excavated by drill and blast. A stub tunnel approximately 26 m long will be excavated by drill and blast at depth of about 110 metres to provide a connection to the future pump station. At the bottom of the shaft will be a large TBM erection chamber, starter tunnel, and tail tunnel that will provide the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) with an option for a future tie-in and water transmission. The intake riser will be constructed in Lake Mead at a depth of 90-107 m below the lake surface. Lake-bottom excavation will be by underwater drilling and blasting. The intake riser will be constructed by sunken tube technology and will provide a docking station for the TBM.
The construction manager is Parsons Water and Infrastructure. SNWA’s design engineer is MW/Hill, a joint venture of Montgomery Watson and CH2M Hill. The contractor’s design engineer is Arup USA, with Brierley Associates. Visit www.snwa.com, www.parsons.com/about/bus_unit/gbu/water, www.mwhglobal.com, www.ch2m.com, www.arup.com and www.brierleyassociates.com 15/08.

Vietnam

Yali - vn/12

Hydro

Drill/Blast

Total of 16 km of tunnels being driven with two headraces 3.7 km x 8 m-diameter and four pressure tunnels 500 m-long and 4.5 m-diameter. Powerhouse is 30 m high, 120 m long and 40 m wide and will accommodate four 175 MW turbines. June 1996.

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