“The NPRA has significant tunnel expertise that will enhance the work on the world’s first ship tunnel,” said NCA director-general Einar Vik Arset.
“The NCA is considered a one-time constructor when it comes to such a large project as the Stad ship tunnel, so it is not ideal to build a large internal project organisation; that is why we have initiated a collaboration with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. This will give the NCA access to expertise and capacity from an experienced project management organisation, thereby strengthening our own project organisation.”
“The NCA’s project organisation has made a significant effort to bring the project to where it is today. However, in the next phase, the project needs to be strengthened, both as we enter the tendering and negotiation process and during the construction period,” said Arset.
Several new resources are being brought in, including project and construction management, geology, tunnel operations, health and safety, and workplace regulations, to prepare the project organisation for the start of construction.
NPRA’s division director, Kjell Inge Davik, described the ship tunnel as “a spectacular and incredibly exciting project.”
“There is a lot of interest in it, especially from the construction industry. We have broad expertise in large infrastructure and tunnel projects, which will benefit the ship tunnel, both in the upcoming tender and contract phase, and potentially in the construction phase,” he said.
The agreement primarily governs the collaboration between the agencies during the tender phase and leading up to contract signing. It may be extended to cover the actual construction of the ship tunnel.
The Stad ship tunnel project is now in the final stages of completing documentation and tender materials. Quality assurance is ongoing before the construction project can be put out to tender, which the NPRA is assisting with.
It was recently announced that the tunnel construction tender would be issued in October, but the NCA now hopes to have it ready by Christmas.
“The NCA has done a good and thorough job with the tender documents. Now, we are getting some extra eyes on them before finalisation, but this will not lead to any major changes,” said Arset.
“We will probably not be able to get the tender out by October as previously reported, but we aim to have it out in the market well before Christmas. At the same time, we are securing valuable expertise ahead of reviewing the offers and starting the negotiations early 2025.”
