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.

Under pressure from the European Commission whose urban waste water directive requires that London’s waste water should be collected and transported to be treated before discharge, the UK environment department Defra has been compelled to admit the appalling price being paid for London’s outdated sewerage system.

The UK government gave on 22^nd March, 2007 the go-ahead for detailed design and planning of the Thames tideway tunnel, a giant ’super sewer’ tunnel costing GBP700 million that will be built beneath London to bail out the capital's overloaded Victorian sewer system and prevent 52 million cubic metres of untreated sewage and rainwater polluting the Rivers Thames and Lea each year. A call for tenders has now been issued by Thames Water for management services to support the planning, design and construction of the project. Click uk/54.

The project will see a 7.2 m-wide tunnel stretching 30 kilometres from Hammersmith in the west to Beckton in the east, with an additional spur tunnel from Abbey Mills in Stratford to Beckton. The tunnel, to be delivered by 2019-2020, will be dug up to 80 metres beneath the surface to intercept sewage and rainwater discharges.

But a project of this size has many hurdles to cross before construction can begin. Thames Water needs to obtain planning permission from 12 local authorities. A principal objection is high cost, probably around GBP2-2.5 billion in all including necessary increases in treatment capacity at east London’s sewage treatment works. OFWAT, the water services regulating authority, is concerned about value for money delivered in terms of health and environmental improvements. The scale and complexity of the interceptor tunnel raise issues of planning, financing and construction risk, in other words cost uncertainty. The project will add around GBP37 to Thames Water sewerage bills by 2017. Read  E NEWS WEEKLY 25/2007, 13/2007, 47/2006, 2/2006 & 17/2004. Visit www.thameswater.co.uk/UK/region/en_gb/content/General/General_Image_Below_000173.jsp?SECT=General_Image_Below_000173 and www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/upload/public/attachments/1124/Item%205.%20Thames%20Tideway%20Tunnel%20-%20Alternative%20Options%2012-07-2007.doc 33/07