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.

The two-way Gotthard tunnel, a main traffic axis which links north and south Europe, can carry up to 1,000 vehicles an hour. At 16.9 km long, it is one of the longest road tunnels in the world. In October 2001 two trucks collided head-on in the Gotthard in what was one of the worst ever road accidents in the country. Since then, around CHF50 million a year has been spent on improving tunnel safety in Switzerland and officials are keen to avoid another deadly fire.

The federal roads office (OFROU) will pilot an anti-fire device, known as a hotspot detector, at the north side of the tunnel. The trial starts at the end of this year. The pilot phase is scheduled to run for at least a year at a cost of CHF350,000.

This system enables the police to locate possible causes of vehicle fires such as the engine or tyres overheating. Last year around 14 vehicles were recorded as emitting smoke or being on fire in the tunnel. There were no fatalities. The steep approach to the tunnel is another reason why coaches and trucks, which are at most danger of getting too hot, can overheat.

Scan and alert

The heat sensitive device works by scanning coaches and lorries and sending 3D colour images, which pinpoint the source of heat, back to the tunnel control centre. Management and the police are alerted if the temperature rises above certain critical values in the vehicle axles, brake pads or turbochargers. The vehicle would then be removed from the area.

The test will try to see exactly what are the standards that have to be used for the device because the system has to be absolutely accurate and make the difference between a truck which is normally very hot because it has driven thousands of kilometres and one which really has a problem.

HGVs are already stopped before going into the Gotthard tunnel to ensure that only one vehicle is let in every 20 seconds. This is a safety measure imposed after the 2001 fire. The system would take advantage of this short break to perform the scan.

A first in Europe

The hotspot detector is the brainchild of ECTN, which is based in Nidwalden in central Switzerland. This is a system which is the first of its kind in Europe. If the pilot phase is successful and the device approved, it would be extended to the south side of the Gotthard as well. ECTN is also hoping that the system will eventually be considered for other tunnels in Switzerland. Click http://www.tunnelintelligence.com/casestudies-in-detail-14.html to learn more about this innovative process. Visit www.ectn.com and www.gotthard-strassentunnel.ch 30/08.