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Construction firm Skanska has won a $122M contract from the Washington State Department of Transportation to rebuild a freeway interchange in Washington, US.The scope of the project — to be delivered on a design-build basis — will involve the reconstruction of both lanes of the Interstate 5 freeway at its interchange with Washington State Route 16 in Tacoma. The work will also include the construction of four direct connector ramps between the SR 16 HOV lanes and the I-5 HOV lanes.Work on the project will commence in September 2016 with completion scheduled for July 2019.
A joint venture between KBR, SMEC Australia and US-based Jacobs Engineering has been appointed to oversee design at the Darlington Upgrade project in Adelaide, Australia.The design JV was subcontracted by the Gateway South Consortium — comprising Fulton Hogan and Laing O’Rourke — which was recently selected to design and build the AUD620M ($440M) road project.The Jacobs, KBR and SMEC Australia JV will be responsible for the reconfiguration of the existing 3.3km-long road from the Southern Expressway to north of Tonsley Boulevard, and the design of a lowered, non-stop motorway.Jacobs’ senior vice president of buildings and infrastructure Patrick Hill said: “We are proud to be involved in this landmark transport project for South Australia and look forward to working closely with the other members of the Gateway South team.“This project represents an excellent opportunity to leverage our proven experience and expertise on major transport infrastructure projects.”The majority of the detailed design and approvals work is set to commence in 2016, with all ground works anticipated to be finished by 2018.
Vinci Concessions has signed a cooperation agreement with the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) for road infrastructure projects in Vietnam.The partnership covers joint development of concession schemes for road projects currently operated by VEC — the Vietnamese highways agency.It will also focus on the construction, financing and operation by VEC and Vinci of new greenfield motorway projects involving Vinci Group Concessions and contracting businesses.Additionally, Vinci Concessions via its subsidiary Vinci Highways will participate in Vietnam’s infrastructure development programme, which will see the construction of a national expressway network, including the 1,800km North-South expressway.
An Astaldi-led joint venture has been awarded a €1bn contract to build the Italian stretch of the Brenner Railway Tunnel. The JV will be responsible for all underground works of the railway section from Mezzaselva, Fortezza, to the Italian border with Austria. The main works will involve the completion of the exploration tunnel and the two main line tunnels — 23km to be dug using traditional methods and 46km to be dug using mechanised excavation with TBMs. This contract, which ratifies the start-up of works, follows a preliminary contract awarding in March 2016. Astaldi Group CEO Filippo Stinellis said: “We are proud to be able to contribute to one of the most important works under construction in Europe to date. The Brenner Tunnel, once completed, will be the longest underground railway in the world. “The project is a great opportunity for us and for Italy, for the employment levels it will guarantee during its construction, but also because it is a pioneering work of engineering that, once completed, will significantly enhance passenger and freight transport through the heart of Europe.” Construction work in this section is expected to be complete within seven years, with the tunnel to become operational by 2025.The €8.8bn Brenner Base Tunnel will be a new 64km-long railway link between Italy and Austria — forming part of the Helsinki-La Valletta Corridor 5.
The UK’s Department of Transport has given development consent to the construction of a smart motorway between Hayes, London, and Theale, Berkshire. The £800M scheme — designed by a CH2M and Arcadis joint venture and to be delivered by a Balfour Beatty and Vinci joint venture — will upgrade a 51.5km section of the M4 between junctions 3 and 12.The project will include the replacement of 11 over-bridges and the widening of five underbridges. It will also include a four-lane carriageway between junctions 3 and 4 and junctions 5 and 12, a five-lane carriageway between junctions 4 and 4b, 32 emergency refuge areas (ERAs), as well as the accommodation of slip roads where there is no existing hard shoulder. The development is part of the £1.5bn government investment to build ten smart motorways in England until 2021.
Work has started on the Mersey Gateway’s main bridge deck, with two bridge building machines launched in the Mersey Estuary in Liverpool, UK.The form traveller machines have moved apart for the first time at the construction site’s south pylon, enabling the construction of the 1,000m-long, £1.75bn six-lane toll bridge deck across the River Mersey — to connect Runcorn and Widnes.The 270t machines — which act as concrete moulds — were assembled at the south pylon earlier this year before being lifted to their starting position at around 25m above the riverbed. Construction teams then cast a pier table — a rectangular shaped platform — around the bridge pylon before preparing to start work on the main bridge deck. Kyuyoung Choi, Merseylink’s operations manager for the main crossing, said of the building process: “Each segment of the bridge deck is made in the same way. Reinforced steel is placed into the mould and we then pour around 130cb m of concrete inside to create each segment.“From the third segment onwards, we install the connection boxes, which are called ‘delta frames’, for the steel stay cables, which are then attached to the upper pylon. The form travellers, which are powered by a hydraulic system, then move forward on a set of rails to the next position and the process is repeated.“The deck segments are cast simultaneously, which allows the bridge deck to ‘grow’ from either side of the pylons until it meets the connecting bridge deck and the structure is complete.”Three pairs of form travellers will be used to build the deck and each pair will operate as a unit — the machines will be launched from the north pylon later this month and from the central pylon in October.They will precast 154 deck segments — each being around 33m wide, 6m long, and taking a week to construct. Cllr Rob Polhill, leader of Halton Borough Council, said: “The three bridge pylons under construction are already giving us a glimpse of a much anticipated view of what will be become a landmark structure in our borough and indeed across the north west.“The launch of the form traveller marks the next, thrilling stage of the project and I’m excited to see the bridge deck emerging across the river.”Work on the bridge deck is expected to finish in summer 2017 with the new bridge opening in autumn 2017.
Construction is set to start on the new A487 bypass project in North Wales in the second half of 2017.Balfour Beatty and Jones Brothers (Ruthin) have been selected as the design and build contractors for the £90M project, with construction work due to commence following a public inquiry.The 9.8km carriageway will stretch from Caernarfon to Bontnewydd, with work involving the construction of 22 structures including culverts and seven bridges.The project — previously delayed due to wildlife concerns — has now progressed with the Welsh government issuing draft orders, and allowing individuals and organisations to submit objections to the route.The project is currently anticipated to be complete in late 2019.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved €100M in financing to support the second phase of the West Metro extension in Espoo, Finland.The funding for the second phase of the extension follows a previous €450M loan provided in 2011 for the first phase of the West Metro, which will enter into service in early 2017.The 7km extended track will add five stations to the line between Matinkylä and Kivenlahti in Espoo.EIB’s president Werner Hoyer said: “Operations like this show that the benefits of the EIB’s operations are quite tangible on the ground.“The mission of the EU Bank is to improve people’s lives through the transactions it performs; I think that helping to improve local public transport is a very good way of doing that. If citizens can travel faster and more comfortably, that improves their lives, even if they don’t always realise it.”Espoo mayor Jukka Mäkelä said: “The West Metro extension in Espoo is not only an investment in public transport but also an investment for the whole area. The West Metro’s growth and development corridor links up the southern part of the city and connects the whole area to the metropolitan area of Helsinki.”
Galfar Engineering and Construction has secured a contract to build a fishery port and related marine and road works at the Special Economic Zone in Duqm, Oman.The contract has been awarded by Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZAD), and is valued at OMR60.69M ($157M).The project will include dredging and land reclamation works, construction of breakwaters, quay walls and concrete floating pontoons with berthing facilities.The facility will anchor a world-scale Industrial Fisheries Cluster at Duqm, and, once finished, is set to be the largest fish harbour project in the country. Construction work is expected to be complete in 30 months.
China Railway Construction has secured a $1.85bn contract to build a light railway line in the state of Kano, Nigeria.The contract — awarded by the Ministry of Works, Housing & Transport — will involve the construction of about 74.3km of rail lines, which will have the capacity to carry trains travelling at a top speed of 100km per hour.The company did not disclose details regarding when the project is expected to commence, but said that phase one and two of the project are expected to last for two years each."This award is subject to the fulfilment of all conditions spelled out in the letter of intent from the financing bank and the final approval by the presidency of Nigeria," said China Railway Construction in a statement issued to the Hong Kong stock exchange.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded two engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the construction of two national highway projects worth INR16.46bn ($245.4M) in Jharkhand, India.One of the contracts has been awarded to Ashoka Buildcon and will involve the development of the 57km-long Govindpur-Chas-Jharkhand/West Bengal Border section. The project will include 38km of national highway with four lanes and 19km with two lanes, as well as four railway-over-bridges, one railway-under-bridge and a 5km-long bypass to Maheshpur town. This section will facilitate the transport of coal and steel, thus contributing to industrial development in the country. The INR9.46bn ($141M) project is expected to be complete in two years.The second contract has been awarded to Ramky Infrastructure for the construction of the 41km-long Barhi-Hazaribagh section.The scope of the work will include the construction of five major bridges, three elephant crossings, two vehicular underpasses and an 11km-long bypass to Hazaribagh city.The project aims to improve connectivity of Hazaribagh, Ranchi and Jamshedpur cities to Delhi-Kolkata corridor through NH-2.The development, valued at INR7bn ($104.3M), is expected to be complete within 21 months.
Absher Construction Company has been awarded a $174M contract by Sound Transit for the construction of Northgate railway station in Seattle, Washington.The scope of the contract will include the construction of an elevated station at Northgate, a parking garage with 450 stalls for transit users, and a transit island for light rail and bus connections.Construction work on the project is set to be complete in 2020, while construction work on underground stations in the Roosevelt and U District neighbourhoods will commence in 2017.Once service opens in 2021, the Northgate station will serve as the northern terminus for light rail until Lynnwood Link opens in 2023.The station is part of the $1.9bn Northgate Link extension project, which extends light rail 6.9km north from the University of Washington to a station next to the King County Northgate Transit Center.
The Third Bosphorus Bridge in Turkey has opened to traffic.The hybrid cable-stayed bridge is part of the $5bn Northern Marmara Highway project that will link the cities of Odayeri and Paşaköy. The $3bn bridge — built in less than three years by IC Ictas and Astaldi consortium — holds the following records: • The only suspension bridge in the world with a deck that includes eight lanes for motorway and two railway lines at the same level; • The widest suspension bridge in the world at 59m; • The tallest A-shaped towers in the world at 322m — taller than the Eiffel tower; • The longest suspension bridge in the world with a deck that features a railway line. Paolo Astaldi, chairman of Astaldi Group, said: “The Third Bosphorus Bridge is a bridge of firsts that brings the industry of professional engineering to new heights. “Astaldi is proud to have played a leading role in this ground-breaking project that demanded the very best in engineering skill and advanced technology.“The bridge will not only bring new growth to the region and alleviate traffic pressure within Istanbul, but it will also create a new important link between Europe and Asia.”Construction work on the remaining sections of the motorway is underway.
Skanska USA has been awarded a $399M design-build contract by the Florida Department of Transportation for the construction of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Florida, US.The contract will include the replacement of the existing bridge over Pensacola Bay with two new three-lane bridges, connecting the cities of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.Each new bridge will have a length of about 5km. The total project length is about 6km, including the roadway approaches on each end of the bridges.Work on the project is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2016 and is set to be complete in August 2020.
Skanska has secured an €197M order from Slovakia’s National Highway Authority, NDS, to extend the D1 highway in eastern Slovakia.The scope of the contract will include the construction of a 14.4km section between Budimír and Bidovce, including an additional 1.1km of express road (R2/R4). The section will include 23 bridges, four overpasses, and noise barriers.Construction on the project — funded by the European Regional Development Fund, OP Integrated Infrastructure 2014-20 and the state budget — is set to commence in November 2016 and is scheduled to be complete in December 2019.
India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the prime minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of nine projects worth about INR240bn ($3.57bn) to enhance railway network across the country.The projects given the go-ahead include:• a third rail line between Ballarshah, Maharashtra and Kazipet, Telangana. The INR24.03bn ($358.3M), 201km-long line is anticipated to be complete in five years.• a third rail line between Itarsi and Nagpur. The line stretches 280km and will involve a cost of INR28.82bn ($429.8M). It is expected to be complete in five years.• a third rail line between Jhansi and Bina. With an estimated cost of INR22.73bn ($339M), the 152.57km-long line is expected to be complete in four years.• a third rail line between Vijayawada Junction and Gudur Junction. The NR38.75bn ($557.9M), 288km-long line is expected to be complete in six years.• a third rail line between Mathura and Jhansi. The 273.80km-long line, with an expected completion cost of INR43.77bn ($652.7M), is anticipated to be complete in six years.• a fourth rail line, with an estimated cost of INR22.98bn ($342.7M) between Jharsuguda and Bilaspur. The 206km-long line is expected to be complete in five years.• a third rail line between Rajnandgaon-Nagpur (Kalumna). The INR21.93bn ($327M), 228.3km-long line is estimated to be complete in five years.• a third rail line between Kharagpur (Nimpura) and Adityapur in West Singhburn district of Jharkhand with an estimated cost of INR14.83bn ($221M). The 132km-long line is expected to be complete in four years.• an INR25.86bn ($385.6M) second line between New Bongaigaon and Kamakhya. The 176km-long line is expected to be complete in five years.
Spanish construction firm Isolux Corsan has secured a €113M contract from the National Highway Authority of India for the construction of a highway project.Under the contract, Isolux Corsan will widen the 72km section of the Highway NH-74 between Haridwar, in Uttarakhand, and Nagina, in Uttar Pradesh, to four lanes. The scope of the work will include the construction of 12 primary and secondary bridges, a high bypass in Njibabad, a bridge over the train tracks and two steps for elephants.It will also include the construction of five bypasses with a total length of 16km, and the creation of service roads, parking for heavy vehicles and a toll plaza.Isolux Corsan is expected to execute the works within 30 months and will be responsible for the project’s maintenance for four years.
Turkey’s Tekfen Construction has signed a $2.1bn pre-agreement with the government of Qatar for the construction of the Al Khor Expressway project.The scope of work will include the construction of a 34km-long highway in the Middle Eastern country, featuring 10 lanes. It will also involve the construction of viaducts, road junctions, overpasses and underpasses. Turkish minister of transport, maritime affairs and communications Ahmet Arsalan said: "The Al Khor Expressway project will be a great example of collaboration between Qatar and Turkey."Qatar is going to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup and introduce great projects through its 2030 National Vision. Turkish contractors have immense knowledge, experience, and workforce in order to accomplish these projects."The project is expected to be delivered within three years.
A joint venture of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and George Kent (Malaysia) has secured a work package for the Mass Rapid Transit Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Line in Malaysia.The work package, known as Package SSP- SY-204, has been awarded by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) and is valued at MYR1.01bn ($250M).Under the contract, the joint venture will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of track works, maintenance vehicles and work trains. MRT Corp CEO Shahril Mokhtar said: “CCCC comes with very good technical know-how having handled many infrastructure projects, including railway construction. “Its joint venture with Malaysian company George Kent, which now has a strong presence in the railway industry in Malaysia, allows the MRT Project to benefit from the experience of these two very strong companies.”
Construction firm BAM has been awarded a €90M ($101.4M) contract by Dutch rail network operator ProRail to revamp the Driebergen-Zeist station area in the Netherlands. The project will involve the construction of an underpass under the tracks and the adjustment of the local road network. BAM will refurbish the rail infrastructure by building two additional tracks. It will also construct a new bus station and underground bicycle parking. The new bus station is targeted to be energy neutral by implementing energy-efficient systems and the installation of solar panels on the platform roofs.Construction work will begin in early 2017.
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