Brenner Base Tunnel: Largest Contracts awarded so far

The Brenner Basistunnel Gesellschaft (BBT SE) has commissioned a JV comprising Strabag Austria and the Italian Salini Impreglio Company to build the biggest contract section awarded so far, the Tulfes-Pfons section including 38 km of tunnel. The amount of investment involved is some 380 million euros. Driving operations were embarked on on September 19, 2014 with the construction period estimated to last roughly 4 ½ years. The 9 km long evacuation tunnel for the Innsbruck Bypass and the two connecting tunnels from the Brenner Base Tunnel to the Innsbruck Bypass, also involving the excavation of the first short sections of the two-bore Base Tunnel have to be produced. In addition, the Ahrental exploratory tunnel is to be continued to reach Steinach at the Brenner. The mechanized drive for the 15 km long tunnel section is due to start in autumn 2015. ⇥G.B.