NTA - Metropolitan Mass Transit System Ltd. today published the prequalifying tender for selecting the contractors to building the Tel Aviv light rail subway tunnels, using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) for digging in soft soils at a depth of 15-20 meters, below the streets, utilities conduits, and the water table. The NATM will be used to dig the tunnel for the light rail's Red Line section in Petah Tikva.
This will be the first NATM project in Israel. The project is being carried out in consultancy with a leading international planning firm. The tender is for the digging of a 3.5-kilometer light rail tunnel, three halls, and connecting safety tunnels on the Red Line's eastern section from Geha Interchange at Road 4 to the Em Hamoshava Station in Petah Tikva.
The tender's winner is due to be selected during the third quarter of 2013, and work will begin by the end of the quarter.
The main 10.5-kilometer section of the Red Line, along Jabotinsky Street in Bnei Brak and Ramat Gan to the Dolphinarium on Tel Aviv's beachfront will be dug by eight tunnel boring machines (TBM).
The NTA will shortly publish another PQ tender for the light rail's communications and control, signaling, high-tension electrification, fire alarm, and other systems.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 21, 2012
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