The interested companies had until Friday 18 January to submit their application documents. Following the end of the prequalification application period, Femern has now prepared an initial overview of the international construction industry’s interest in the four main civil engineering contracts for the project. Each joint venture could apply for prequalification for more than one of the four main contracts.
"We’re very satisfied with the response," says Steen Lykke, technical director, Femern. "As this project represents one of civil engineering’s largest tunnel structures, we need the world’s best construction companies. Having received a sufficient number of applications, and bearing in mind that a joint venture or firm can apply for more than one contract, I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to prequalify a suitable number of professional and experienced contractors on each contract."
Femern stated it will now evaluate the applications in detail and then decide which companies will be prequalified and consequently invited to submit bids. The four civil engineering contracts for the coast-to-coast link are dredging of the seabed and land reclamation; construction of the northern section of the tunnel; construction of the southern section of the tunnel; and construction of the portal structures, ramps and associated land facilities.
The consolidated construction estimate for the coast-to-coast link amounts to EUR 5.5bn (USD 7.3bn) at 2008 prices. Final project approval will be effected by the Danish Parliament’s adoption of a Construction Act by the end of 2014. In Germany it is expected that the authorities will approve the project in 2015.
