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.

Big 5 PMV, the Middle East’s premier construction plant, machinery and equipment show, is scheduled for the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from 23-26 November, 2009. The show is a prime trading arena for displaying products and services, meeting with leading industry professionals, and enhancing corporate and trade identities. Buyers from Asia, Africa, CIS and the Gulf States get together at PMV as the ultimate sourcing platform for the region. For more, contact Rosa Thomas, e-mail rosa@smg-online.com or visit www.big5pmv.com 29/09

The goal of the ITA-CET foundation is to be the link between universities, research facilities and consultancies and all types of professionals working in the tunnelling industry, such as technicians, lawyers, financiers, environmentalists and safety engineers. Initially, CET will endorse professional Master courses at universities in Torino, Lausanne, Madrid, Athens, Texas and Lyon. This will be followed by a series of two-day training courses in specific fields such as sprayed concrete, risk management, mechanized and conventional tunnelling, safety, waterproofing, and underground use. Seminars will be organized for companies and conferences that are similar to the current two-day training sessions offered at ITA conferences. For more, contact Andre Assis, aassis@unb.br. 29/09.

Not all countries have a comprehensive framework of regulations and guidance to ensure that underground construction work is conducted in a safe and healthy manner. The “Guidelines for Good Occupational Health and Safety Practice in Tunnel Construction” have been prepared by the ITA Working Group “Health and Safety in Works”, gathering experts from around 15 countries under the leadership of Donald Lamont (UK).

The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association held its thirty-fifth meeting in Budapest, Hungary, from 23 to 28 May, in conjunction with the World Tunnel Congress 2009 "Safe Tunnelling for the City and for the Environment" organised by ITA and the Hungarian Tunnelling Association. 1100 persons participated to the Congress. 40 of the 55 Member Nations participated or were represented in the General Assembly, including 1 proxy and 1 vote by correspondence.

After a 140-day drive, on 03.07.2009, TBM Nenica broke through on the longest tunnel (2,250 m) of the Camarillas railway bypass on Spain's Chinchilla-Cartagena high-speed line at Hellin, Albacete. The tunnel is a single tube with a 60 sq m section. There are three other short tunnels, total length 435 m, on the same 17.9 km-long line between Albacete and Murcia. Click here for full press release in Spanish and es/95 for project history. 28/09.

On 02.07.2009, the 2.2 km-long Loma de Carrascal tunnel on the 10.9 km Cuenca-Olalla subsection of the Madrid-Castilla La Mancha-Valencia-Murcia high-speed railway was completed. The single-tube, twin-track NATM tunnel, with 34 m in cut and cover, has an 85 sq m section. For more click es/95 and www.adif,es. 28/09.

Sembawang Engineers and Constructors, part of the Punj Lloyd group, has pocketed the EUR186 million contract for Botanic Gardens and Stevens stations on the Downtown Line 2 of Singapore metro, together with 1 km of twin tunnel. Read full press release. View map here. 27/09.

Prevention of unauthorised entry into tunnelling sites has never been more important to protect both personnel and equipment as well as the general public from site hazards. The compact I-on16 system from the Scantronic brand of Cooper Security has been introduced for just this purpose. Click here 27/09

A complete line-up of GIA tunnelling equipment comprising two locomotives, four shuttle cars, and a crawler-mounted 9HR/B Haggloader were used by Skanska BS AB for excavation of a 4.2 km-long Slovakian tunnel with a cross section area of just 11.5 m².

The Federal Roads Authority (ASTRA) in Switzerland are investing 68 Million euro to refurbish and improve the Belchen Tunnel. The Belchen tunnel is situated on the A2 Basel-Mittelland motorway and was originally built in 1970. The proposed 4 year work program to bring the tunnel in line with current safety regulations, will see the upgrading and renewal of the ventilation systems as well as better traffic control facilities with increased traffic guidance outside the tunnels. Jet fans will be used to improve ventilation and prevent the spread of smoke in the event of a fire . 26/09

The TBM Gabi I started driving southwards from Erstfeld on 0.12.2007. Some eighteen months later, and half a year earlier than planned, it reached its destination at Amsteg after 7.2 km. Breakthrough of the tunnel was achieved on 16.06.2009 with great accuracy: the deviation of 4 mm horizontally and 8 mm vertically was minimal. The machine will now be dismantled and transported away. By 01.06.2009, the west TBM Gabi II had driven 5,742 m or 80 %. Of the 153.5 km of the tunnel system under the Gotthard, 133 km (or 87%) have now been excavated. According to the construction programme, the final breakthrough between Sedrun and Faido will take place at the beginning of 2011. Click ch/52 and visit www.alptransit.ch and www.agn-amsteg.ch. 25/09.

The A3 western bypass in Zurich, including the Uetliberg Tunnel (2 x 4,430 m) and the Aescher tunnel (2,176 m, 2,142 m), opened to traffic on 04.05.2009. The Knonaueramt, the final section of the western bypass which includes the Islisberg tunnel (2 x 4,955 m), will open on 13.11.2009. Click ch/24 and visit www.uetlibergtunnel.ch. 26/09

The third lot of the ex SS 29 Colle di Cadibona bypass from km 133 to km 138.150, including the Big Mountain (1,480 m) and Vispa (480 m) tunnels, opens today, 22.06.2009, at a cost of EUR39.69 million. The SS 29 was recently reclassified as a road of national interest. Click it/87. Visit www.coestra.it and www.geodata.it. 26/09.

Dates: 18-19 August 2009 Place: Caesar Business Belo Horizonte in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Thermo Fisher Scientific will host it’s 2009 Laboratory Informatics Symposium (LIS) in Brazil. The symposium will focus on the specific data management requirements of the mining industry and will include presentations from leading mining services organization Sao Paolo-based Interfusao.

SANYA, Hainan, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Eight workers who were trapped when a tunnel collapsed Thursday in south China's Hainan Province were rescued after 64 hours on Sunday afternoon. They walked out of the tunnel with the support of rescuers at around 3:55 p.m. and were taken to hospital for medical examination.