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 proposed replacement of the Alaskan Way viaduct in downtown Seattle with a 3.2 km-long bored double-deck road tunnel is symptomatic of the current trend in North America to take potential problems underground. The reality is that tunnels are more environmentally friendly and less visible than viaducts, and that their construction is less intrusive, making them more likely to be approved and built. If Seattle has its way, tunnel construction will begin in 2011 funded by a fuel tax and federal grants. The project qualifies for TARP 2 funding, so will probably be fast tracked for an earlier start. More at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/. 

Meanwhile, if Governor Schwarzenegger can be believed, California will circumvent its current financial woes to authorize the proposed USD40 billion (US$1 = EUR0.72), 1,290 km-long (1 km = 1.6 miles) high speed rail system to serve San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, with branches to Sacramento in the north and Irvine in the south. Dependent upon chosen alignment, the route includes between 21 km and 37 km of tunnels of maximum lengths between 5.5 km and 8 km. Invitations to tender for construction are planned for 2011, with project completion 2020. For the latest programme management presentation visit www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov.

Also in California, of the 19 alternatives studied for the proposed Westside Extension, two subway recommendations have emerged. A decision on whether the alignment of the 19-20 km-long, USD5-7 billion extension should be along Wilshire or Santa Monica Boulevards will be taken shortly, signalling an EIS and opening the way to fast track design. More from www.metro.net/projects_studies/westside/default.htm.

During 2009, another EIS will be undertaken in San Francisco for the 25.6 km-long extension of BART to Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara which includes 6.4 km of twin running tunnels and three underground stations. Visit www.vta.org/bart.

Completing the west coast line-up is the San Diego water supply tunnel, where Traylor/Shea is battling against the odds through hard conglomerate on this essential 6.4 km link between the San Vicente reservoir and the metropolitan area. A 2.62 m ID pipeline is being installed in the tunnel, which is being advanced using every excavation and support method known to mankind. More from www.sdcwa.org and tunnelbuilder archive us/47 . www.tunnelbuilder.com/

In Atlanta, Georgia award of the 2.86 km-long, 4.45 m-diameter South River wastewater tunnel that will eliminate sanitary overflows is awaited.

In New York, the Camp Dresser & McKee and Hatch Mott MacDonald joint venture is providing engineering services for replacement of two existing potable water siphons crossing New York harbour between Staten Island and Brooklyn by 1.9 m-diameter pipeline within a 3.8 m-diameter, 3.2 km-long tunnel to be bored by EPB or slurry TBM.

In Miami, Florida there is a flurry of activity to refinance the port tunnel, a project that has been mooted since March, 2000, see tunnelitelligence archive us/43. Visit www.portofmiamitunnel.com.

Up in Vancouver, the Port Mann project requires a 3 m-diameter, 1.05 km-long water tunnel to be driven under Fraser River between Coquitlam and Surrey at a depth of 40 m below surface. For more, visit www.metrovancouver.org.

Also in Vancouver, the twin 7.1 km-long, 3.8 m-diameter Capilano-Seymour water supply tunnels are being restarted, and Metro Vancouver has asked three prequalified joint ventures to resubmit proposals. For more history and background visit tunnelitelligence archive ca/25 and www.metrovancouver.org/services/constructionprojects/water/pages/seymourcapilano.aspx