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.

Rescue Tunnel Makes Grouft Tunnel Safer

The Grouft tunnel in Luxembourg consists of two tubes, practically parallel, each with a length of 2,966 metres. It connects the Haeschtreferbierg Plateau in the south with the Alzette valley in the north.

In general, the intervention speed of first-aid rescuers is crucial in case of fire or accident. At the Grouft tunnel in particular, favourable circumstances induced the project owner - the road administration - to plan an access tunnel right in the middle of the main tunnel to meet this requirement. These favourable circumstances are the topography of the site, that makes it possible to reduce the length of the rescue tunnel to 100 metres approximately, road CR 122 that borders the place and the vicinity of the national headquarters of rescue services in Lintgen. Thanks to the 45 m-long rescue tunnel and a 30 m-long vehicular cross-passage that extends it, emergency services will be able to access at the earliest the two main tubes of the Grouft tunnel. Moreover, planners grasped the opportunity of building the rescue tunnel to add a ventilation structure capable to remove fumes, thus avoiding the constraint of having to take these fumes out through the portals.

From the safety point of view, the rescue tunnel divides the Grouft tunnel in two, thereby reducing high risks in a nearly 3,000 m-long tunnel to lesser risks in two 1,500 m-long tunnels.

Cross-passage G6 is both vehicular and pedestrian. Smoke will be taken out by a 2.80 m-high duct above the tunnel, separated by a reinforced concrete ceiling. This duct also runs above the 3-lane main tunnel, which cross-section cannot be obstructed. A substantial excavation has been necessary. The central smoke removal system is an element among others of the ventilation system. In fact, the central smoke removal system is an additional safety element along with the fans installed in the mains tunnels. The two extractor fans will be placed in the upper part of the lateral cavern and the fumes will be evacuated by a 4.5 m-diameter shaft. The maximum installed power will be 860 kW (2 x 430), allowing for a ventilation flow of some 270 cubic metres/second. The diameter of the fan wheels will be 2.50 metres (outer diameter of 2.80 metres), and the length of the fans is approximately 10 metres. Taking into account the installation of the silencers, the fan room will be at least 22 metres by 6.50 metres high. Click HEre  and  Iu/13 26/07.