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.

Massachusetts lawmakers are pressing for congressional hearings on tunnel inspection legislation as soon as possible, citing the National Transportation Safety Board's finding that the lack of Big Dig tunnel inspections contributed to last year's fatal ceiling collapse. The NTSB called for a mandatory federal tunnel inspection programme similar to the one already used for the nation's bridges. That recommendation should help convince Congress to act swiftly, said Rep. Michael Capuano, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who is leading the effort on Capitol Hill.

Earlier this year, Capuano filed a bill that would require the US Secretary of Transportation to set minimum inspection requirements for tunnels. It would also make inspections of all highway tunnels mandatory. Bridges are already subject to such standardized inspections.

Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry say they are filing legislation to win Senate support and create such a tunnel inspection programme. The bill would authorize the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) to contract with independent engineers to review construction methods of major federal highway projects. It would also require the DOT to develop a tunnel inspection programme that would set guidelines for state officials to ensure tunnels are continuously inspected for problems. The Kerry-Kennedy measure includes the Capuano bill's mandate for a national tunnel inspection programme.

The NTSB's long-awaited report, which was approved by the board on 10^th July, found that problems with the epoxy glue used to hold up concrete ceiling panels in the I-90 connector tunnel was the likely cause of the collapse occurred on 10^th July, 2006 that killed Milena Del Valle. Read E-NEWS WEEKLY33/2007, 1/2007 & 49/2006.

One of the report's major findings was that a timely tunnel inspection programme failed to be implemented. Such a programme, the NTSB concluded, likely would have detected problems with the adhesive anchors and enabled them to be fixed before the accident. Visit www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2007/071007b.htm

Safety advocates said it makes no sense to have a federal programme for bridge inspections while ignoring tunnels. There are no national standards or requirements for highway tunnel inspections. Tunnel owners are responsible for determining how their tunnels should be inspected. This needs to be changed because it could prevent deaths and save hundreds of millions of dollars to know that a tunnel is in trouble and needs maintenance. 34/07.