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.

Mexico City, founded on what was once an island in the middle of a lake, is sinking at the rate of 10 cm (4 in) per year. Over the last 30 years, the city’s critical drainage lines have lost their slope, resulting in a 40% reduction in overall capacity.   To remedy the problem the city is moving forward on the 62 km (39 mi) long Emisor Oriente sewer tunnel to drain additional water from the Valley of Mexico. The tunnel will be constructed using a total of six TBMs, including three 8.93 m (29.3 ft) diameter Robbins EPBMs, to be shipped to the jobsite by the end of 2009. 

Carso Infraestructura y Construcción, S.A.B de C.V. signed a complete contract with The Robbins Company for the supply of three machines on October 26, 2008. Additional supply will include the back-up systems, cutting tools, and spares. The three machines are slated for an early 2010 launch after design and assembly in the U.S. and China. 

The Robbins EPBMs will bore Lots 3, 4, and 5 of the Emisor Oriente project in geology ranging from sandy clay and gravel to tuff and pumice.  The tunnel lengths will be 9.6 km (6.0 mi), 9.7 km (6.0 mi), and 9.5 km (5.9 mi), respectively. 

Mixed face cutterheads will be utilized on the machines, with interchangeable cutting tools depending on the ground conditions.  In soil the machines will utilize knife-edge bits, which can be changed out with 17-inch (432 mm) disc cutters in rock. For muck removal, the Robbins EPBMs will feature 900 mm (35 in) diameter ribbon-type screw conveyors to safely excavate ground with boulders, which are predicted to be up to 600 mm (24 in) in diameter. 

Once tunneling is complete in 2012, the USD $1.2 billion project, for the National Water Commission (Conagua), will be the country’s longest tunnel.  The finished tunnel will provide drainage at 150 cubic meters of water per second (5,300 ft³/sec), easing problems due to both surface subsidence and the city’s booming population, which has doubled over the last 30 years to 19 million.