Cavico Corp. announced that Cavico Transportation, its wholly owned subsidiary, has signed a contract, estimated to be approximately USD9.43 million, for tunnel construction at Huoi Quang hydropower plant. The total length of tunnel is 9,895.89 metres. Its external diameter is 9 m and the internal diameter equals 7.5 m. The geology is porphyric rock and rhyolite. The planned method of excavation is drill and blast and conventional excavator equipped with bucket. ..

The Coentunnel Company BV consortium, formed by VINCI Concessions and VINCI Construction’s subsidiaries CFE and Dredging International, together with Dura Vermeer, Arcadis, Besix and TBI, signed on 22nd April, 2008 the concession contract for the Coen tunnel in Amsterdam with the Dutch Minister for Water and Public Works. The project, worth over EUR500 million in total, calls for the financing, design and construction of an immersed, 8-lane road tunnel, refurbishment of the existing 600 m tunnel and maintenance of both tunnels for a period of 30 years. ..

A group of engineering firms led by Pro Iter, teaming with Eng Team & Partners, C&T Engineering, Geosyntech and Spain’s FHECOR, scooped a EUR764,600 contract to prepare the final design, safety coordination during final design and associated assignments (surveying, geotechnical and geological studies, etc.) as part of the upgrading of road SS13 "Pontebbana" from the south ring road in Udine to Pordenone province's road system, first lot on the section from Ronche di Fontanafredda interchange to Ponte della Delizia. The project includes a 1.4 km single-tube two-lane cut-and-cover tunnel. Visit ..

Bemel Norge, Witt & Sohn's partner in Norway, pocketed a NOK7.2 million contract to supply impulse ventilators with a combined driving power of 72-80 kN for fire ventilation in a new 2.6 km-long tunnel on Bergen's west ring road, section Dolvik-Sandeide of road Rv 557. Visit www.bemel.no and www.wittfan.de 17/08...

Invitation for prequalification, deadline 6th June, 2008 for the main civil works of the 309 MW Upper Tamakoshi hydroelectric project (contract No. UTKHEP/03-2064/65) which consist of a 22.5 m-high and 60 m-long diversion dam; the Bhaise Khola intake structure including an approx. 60 m-long connecting shaft to the headrace tunnel;

Sociedad Concesionaria Autopista Los Libertadores S.A. was awarded the concession for the construction and operation of the 117 km Santiago-Colina-Los Andes highway under a public tender in 1997, for a term of 28 years. The operator is owned by OHL of Spain. OHL will invest USD101 million in expanding and improving the highway. The Chacabuco tunnel will be doubled and the upgrading of a 19.5 km

Invitation to prequalify, deadline unspecified, for construction of 750 mm-diameter gas pipelines. Contractors are required to have experience in tunnelling and microtunnelling. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=67831-2008, OJ S 49, or contact Snam Rete Gas, San Donato Milanese, fax +39 0252038570. Visit mevem@snamretegas.it 13/08.

There are many technologies available today in terms of fire and life safety in road tunnels. So many in fact that it is becoming more and more difficult for clients and contractors alike to determine what they want and what they need. From a clients perspective, fire and life safety is about protection to its infrastructure and to the public at large. Conversely, the contractor is looking to meet its ‘fit for purpose’ or ‘deem to comply’ requirements in the most economic and practicable way.

 

Practices regarding fire and life safety in road tunnels have undergone a degree of transformation during the last decade or more throughout the world. This transformation has largely been driven by a series of catastrophic accidents such as the major fires in Europe including the Mont Blanc Tunnel, Tauern Tunnel, Saint-Gothard Tunnel and now most recently the city link tunnels in Melbourne Australia.

 

International guidelines produced by organisations such as the PIARC, the EU, the ITA and the NFPA now provide clients, owners and designers with the tools required to define and specify the  required fire and life safety systems in road tunnels. The majority of these tools are based on risk assessment and risk management .

 

Recent road tunnel projects within Australia, however, have not referred solely to such guidelines. Clients have opted to prescribe different or additional fire and life safety requirements within the projects technical specification documentation (project requirements), leaving designers and contractors with little room to implement alternatives or substitutions. Further these project requirements are largely dictated by practice established on previous road tunnel projects within Australia.

 

This paper looks at the current international guidelines and practices and undertakes a comparison with the EastLink tunnels in Melbourne and other road tunnels within Australia and makes an assessment on whether Australian methods are most appropriate for clients and contractors alike. If you require further information about this paper please contact Connell Wagner pty ltd or  Tunnelbuilder .