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.

PPS guidance systems are designed specifically for TBMs and roadheaders, giving the operator all of the necessary information to keep his machine on course and to return it to the design centreline when necessary. All hardware and software has been chosen to cope with the harshest tunnelling environment, and developed with experience over the years. Graphical presentation is operator friendly, with clearly arranged display, and systems can be tailored to specific requirements.PPS, located in Germany, can supply guidance systems to any part of the world. For more information, visit www.pps-muc.de or e-mail info@pps-muc.de or click here or on the PPS logolink. 25/09.

For Normet Group, one of the worldwide leading manufacturers of mining and tunnelling machinery, 2008 was the best year in its history. Its turnover reached 107 million euros, representing a growth of 38% and an increase in the value of the orders of 43% compared to 2007. With 83% of sales outside Europe, the company's reorganisation in 2007 proved to be a success. The number of employees increased by some 30%, and at year-end just exceeded 450 people.

It has been announced that Arup and Atkins as part of aj oint venture will design the underground tunnels as part f the Crossrail project in London.

Last week, in Rome, the transport ministers of Austria and Italy signed a definitive agreement on the construction of the 56 km-long Brenner rail tunnel through the Alps, a project that will reduce lorry traffic across the Brenner Pass and Tyrol by 2022. Until recently, there were doubts whether construction would go ahead due to financing problems in Austria and Italy, despite the EU picking up 20% of the bill. The new agreement activates the treaty signed between the two countries five years ago, since when much preparatory work for the base tunnel has been completed and high-speed rail connections have been developed. Visit tunnelbuilder archive at/16 for history of the project, and enter “Brenner” into archive search for backup rail projects. 22/09.

A 2005 vintage MHI 6.44 m-diameter EPB that has tunnelled less than 3.2 km is available in the US for immediate sale, together with trailing gear and most accessories. Click for details. Contact sam@tunnelbuilder.com 21/09.

The deadline for the submission of abstracts for the International Water Mist Conference 2009 is on the 29th of May. Interested parties should submit abstracts no later than this date. The acceptance letters will be sent out until the 26th of June, 2009.

The IWMA Conference will be held this year from September 23 - 24 in London, United Kingdom. The conference is open to anybody and will offer an opportunity for those responsible for selecting fire protection as well as researchers/scientists to be updated on the current state of water mist technology for fire protection. This conference will be held in cooperation with independent member institutions which will provide full technical support.

Marioff’s innovative HI-FOG® Water Mist Fire Protection System has been recognized for its water-saving potential by Waterwise, a leading authority on water efficiency in the U.K. HI-FOG® uses up to 90 percent less water than traditional fire protection systems. Marioff is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX).

NFM Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Indian company BEML to seal an exclusive strategic partnership with a view to becoming a principal supplier of TBMs in India and the countries of South-East Asia. With dense and rapidly-growing urban populations, Indian cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi have to develop their metro systems underground. The general shortage of power in the country is also forcing development of hydro projects, while the need for irrigation tunnels is also acute. Visit www.nfm-technologies.com and www.bemlindia.com. 20/09.

More than 100 exhibitors are listed for the upcoming RETC conference taking place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from 14-17th June, 2009. Included are numerous tunnelbuilder and tunnelintelligence clients such as Amberg (booth 217), Arup (321), Atlas Copco (605), BASF (621), Bekaert (514), ES Rubber (213), Geodata (301), Halcrow (309), Herrenknecht (313), Minova (912), Normet (222), Palmieri (725), Robbins (221), Sandvik (618), SELI (706), Sika (405), tacs (709), and VMT (504).

The deadline for the Call for Papers for the next International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security (ISTSS 2010), to be held in Frankfurt am Main the 17-19th March 2010, is fast approaching. Abstracts for paper submissions should be received no later than the 1st June (poster submissions are open until the 1st October). The call for papers contains full information.

Ilmeg Products AB, the Swedish manufacturer of dust control systems for the rock excavation industry, has built a new factory to produce the newly developed X-series of dust collectors. The new plant will use lean production techniques for enhanced productivity to support Ilmeg’s position as an innovative supplier with a long term commitment to the industry.

Today, 29.04.2009, we are publishing the first tunnelling bid that has resulted directly from the measures announced by various governments to bring forward infrastructure projects as part of the financial recovery process. Norway’s Statens vegvesen has made a small, but significant, step in the right direction by phasing work on the Flenja tunnel in Aurland to speed up the bid process. Readers please note the short deadline – you have little more than a week to start the paper trail!

Italian company CMC (Ravenna) will use a Robbins Single Shield TBM to construct the 5.5 km-long headrace tunnel for the Theun Hinboun expansion project on the Nam Theun river, the largest tributary of the Mekong river. The 7.6 m-diameter machine is being assembled at The Robbins Company in Solon, Ohio, US for shipment in July, 2009.

The Aestuver and Hebel divisions of the Xella group are to hold a fire test demonstration of fire-resistant Aircrete panels and mini-seminar at Gelnhausen, Germany. Hosted by Sachverständingenbüro für Brandschutz Diplom-Ingenieure