The construction contract for the EUR133 million Lai Chi Kok Transfer Scheme, advertised at tunnelbuilder.com earlier this year, has been awarded to Leighton Asia. The project includes two 4.9 m-diameter storm water drainage tunnels with total length of 3.7 km between West Kowloon reclamation and Lai Chi Kok and Sham Shui Po districts, six intake shafts, a stilling basin, an outfall adit into Victoria Harbour, and 270 m of 3 m-diameter connection adits. Work starts immediately for completion in 2012. More from Quinnie Lee, tel +852 2823 1427, e-mail quinnie.lee@leightonasia.com 47/08..

Contract valued EUR414,000 awarded by Norwegian Railway Infrastructure Administration to Norconsult AS of Sandvika to provide technical and detailed plans of tunnels for the joint project E6 road and Dovrebanen, lot Minnesund-Kleverud, which includes one twin-tube 0.6 km-long road tunnel and 3.1 km of single railway tunnel over a 17 km-long alignment in Eidsvoll and Stange municipalities. ..

Contract for telecommunications installations for 6.5 km section of new double railway track in Baerum municipality for Lysaker-Sandvika, of which 5.5 km in tunnel, awarded by Jernbaneverket to T Connect AS of Manglerud, Oslo. http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=292852-2008 More from Olaf Bjerknes, tel +47 9943 4144, e-mail olbj@jbv.no 46/08. ..

Bemel Norge AS of Majorstuen, Oslo has been awarded the contract to supply ventilation fans to the 5.37 km-long Atlantic Ocean tunnel between Kristiansund and Bremnes on National Road 64 in the value EUR555,000...

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.

Prior information notice for construction works, value EUR24.86 million, for a undergroung cut-and-cover tunnel from Pabellon Moises Ruiz to Plaza de Barcelona, 1,1 km, with 0.8 m-thick base, 1.0 m-thick walls and 1.0 m-thick roof, on Carretera de Ronda, in Almeria. The works will include intermodal station.

The Aragnouet-Bielsa tunnel, which connects the Upper Pyrenees county in France and the Spanish province of Aragon, is notorious for its breaches to security standards, difficult access during the winter, frost problems, etc. Substantial improvements must be carried out to make the tunnel safer and facilitate its accesses on either side of the border. So far, every programme of works was financed by the French or Spanish governments, based on specific contracts as needed. The two administrations are tied by a 10-year renewable contract with alternate presidency every two years. The first president on duty is Aragon’s counsellor for transport Alfonso Vicento Barra.

A consortium set up on 2nd June, 2008 will enable a joint management with a unique budget of EUR1.2 million, shared between the two administrations. This unique body is expected to improve the management of the tunnel and its accesses. Not only will the consortium manage the 3.07 km tunnel but also 4.5 kilometres of road on the Spanish side and 6.1 kilometres of road on the French side. The two administrations will equally share the financial burden. Their budget will allow the management, maintenance and operation of the tunnel and its accesses (snow ploughing, etc.). Heavy refurbishment works will necessitate further financing and the consortium will apply for European Interreg funds.

A first EUR15 million funding spread on four years will enable the installation of a better ventilation for anti-frost purpose during the winter, a videomonitoring system and a maintenance team. It is believed these improvements will allow all-year opening of the tunnel, even during night hours to the benefit of Spanish skiers who want to go to Piau-Engaly, Saint-Lary Soulan and Peyragudes skiing resorts in France.

On 30th July, 2008, the consortium agreed upon the publication of a call for tenders for the safety improvement project. Also, a EUR1.6 million maintenance contract of the tunnel and its connecting roads has been awarded but the name of the company remains undisclosed until September, when the contract commences. 31/08.