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.

Improved motorization and the use of unleaded fuel have drastically reduced CO concentration. Therefore, the main danger now comes from nitrogen oxides (NO and NO₂), also generated in big majority by road traffic, and specifically from NO₂, although it is four times less present than NO. This powerful oxidizer, produced mainly by diesel engines, pervades the lungs and the bronchioles. The French national health monitoring institute has noticed a correlation between the rising levels of NO₂ and an increase of mortality and hospital treatment for respiratory diseases. 

While the management and operation personnel is the first concerned by the air quality in tunnels, in case of repeated traffic jams, many road users are equally exposed for long periods. Normally, the presence of NO₂ can also have a direct impact on the most fragile users (asthmatic people and the elderly). 

Measurements carried out in 2007 by the CETU in the Croix-Rousse and Fourvière tunnels in Lyon showed that the NO₂ rates exceeded widely the 400 ppb (parts per billion) limit normally allowed. The limit of 700 ppb is even often exceeded. CETU reckons that "operators have at their disposal operational tools to monitor CO and opacity, but very little to monitor NO₂ while it is the need today to manage ventilation". 

The lack of such equipment is stressed by the makers of systems for gas analysis and level measurement. Sick Maihak states that the arrival to the market of optical measurement devices (spectrometers) has made it possible to measure in a reliable way the NO₂ contents. The company equipped in 2007 the M-30 tunnels in Madrid. Fifty-eight Vicotec 320 devices continuously monitor the NO and NO₂ concentrations.

But CETU observed that “safety to avoid accidents is prominent for operators, owners and engineering consultancies so that NO₂ is not the main worry”. Visit www.cetu.equipement.gouv.fr, www.sick.com and www.codel.co.uk/Concept.pdf 22/08.