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.

 Over the coming quarter, fire resistance systems will be installed in seven tunnels in France. Fire Barrier 135 refractory mortar, supplied by Innovative Fire Systems, has been selected for these jobs because of its range of applications. It can be spraye as protection on concrete structures such as refuges, and can also be cast for use in shaft linings and cables troughs. Fire barrier 135 can not only meet both French CETU N2 & N3 requirements, but also satisfies the RWS Dutch curve.

Fire Barrier 135 will be employed in the tunnels at La Baume et Mirabeau, Sinard, Sainte Marie Aux Mines, Aix en Provence, Metro de Paris, Saint Germain et Chatillon, and Montjezieux. This follows evaluation of a wide selection of products and systems which identified Fire Barrier 135 as the only material that can be cast, sprayed and installed manually. A 75 mm-thick layer will be used to insulate the tunnel electrical chambers and cable shafts from the effects of fire and heat. For details visit http://www.innovativefiresystems.com/eng/download.htm. This insulating layer will ensure that the cables will not reach their melting point of 80 degrees C. Installing a 28 mm-thick layer of Fire Barrier 135 into the public refuges on the tunnels will ensure thermal insulation of the concrete lining, which should not then rise above 60 degrees.

A new series of five rigorous fire tests without mesh reinforcement has been carried out in the CSTB laboratory to evaluate the fire performance of Fire Barrier 135 in this configuration. By the end of this year more than 20 tunnels in Europe will have been treated with Fire Barrier 135, making it the most widely installed system. For more information on safety products visit www.innovativefiresystems.com.