The consortium Spie Sud Est/Yvroud Europeenne des Fluides, Feyzin secured the EUR7.6 million contract for equipment maintenance in the Grand Lyon tunnels, the most important of which are Fourviere (1,850 m), Croix-Rousse (1,750 m), Brotteaux-Servient and Vivier-Merle (336 m). For more, contact Communaute Urbaine de Lyon, fax +33 478 957097, or visit http://marches.grandlyon.com. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=058386-2010. 11/10...

Gähler und Partner AG of Ennetbaden have secured the EUR2.28 million contract for PM designer for safety refurbishment in 1.14 km-long Mosi tunnel on A4, near Brunnen. Contact OFROU, Zofingen, tel +41 6274575-11, fax -90, e-mail beschaffung.zofingen@astra.admin.ch. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=062920-2010. 11/10...

IG BP2, c/o Bänziger Partner AG of Zurich, secured the EUR2.63 million contract from BAMO for 5.7 km-long N3 Kerenzer tunnel. Contact OFROU, Winterthour, tel +41 522344-711, fax -790, e-mail winterthur@astra.admin.ch. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=062921-2010. 11/10..

Construction contract for Kuechelberg tunnel awarded to PAC SpA consortium, value EUR34,695,272 excluding VAT. More from PAC in Capo di Ponte, tel +39 0364331037, fax +39 036442303, e-mail info@pacspa.it and client APB in Bozen, tel +39 04714125-14, fax –39, e-mail gare-11.5@provincia.bz.it Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=071475-2010. 11/10...

Rete Ferroviaria Italiana SpA is inviting companies to prequalify for civil engineering work on railway tunnels in Italy. Further information and documents from Iacomino Raffaele at Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato in Milan, tel +39 02637 148-19, fax –20, e-mail dns-qs@rfi.it to whom requests to participate should be sent. Visit

Pre-feasibility study being undertaken by ILF Consulting Engineers for construction of single track railway line along the Karakorum highway between the end of the existing railway network in the south at Havelian and the border between Pakistan and China near the famous Khunjrab Pass in the north.

Prequalification underway by MTR for tender reference no 703 for West Island Line SHW to SYP tunnels value EUR30 million with a view to selective invitations to tender being issued in 4Q/2008 for contract award in 3Q/2009. Expressions of interest to Malcolm O’Neill, tel 3921 3383, e-mail moneill@mtr.com.hk Visit www.mtr.com.hk/eng/tenders/new_projects.html 45/08.

In light of several severe roadway tunnel fires in Europe in the past few years, the European Union has undertaken a comprehensive research programme designed to characterize tunnel fire hazards and evaluate mitigation strategies.

Meanwhile, increasing traffic in the United States make underground structures increasingly attractive for highways and transit. Based on an increased concern for safety and security in the US inventory, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) subcommittee on bridges and structures created the technical committee on tunnels (T-20) to address this problem. T-20 leads the development of AASHTO guidelines for existing and new tunnels, working with NFPA, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and others with respect to standards and guidelines for highway tunnels and passenger and freight rail tunnels.

An 11-member team of FHWA and state highway officials was formed to study European practices for tunnel safety. Team members identified a number of underground transportation system initiatives and practices that varied from those in the US in some respect. The team recommended that nine of these initiatives or practices be considered for further study in the United States. Among the priorities the team identified was an evaluation of the effectiveness of automatic incident detection systems and intelligent video for tunnel safety and security.

As a next step, T-20 requested and received approval to conduct a workshop on research needs for safety and security in roadway tunnels. The goal of the workshop was to review the state of the art and develop recommendations on research needs for improving safety and security in roadway tunnels for consideration by T-20. The workshop was held on 29th and 30th November, 2007 in Irvine, California. The NFPA has issued a report in March 2008 that presents the results of the workshop. To read the report, visit www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Research/SafetySecurityRoadwayTunnels.pdf 21/08.