UK client, the Hampshire County Council will be requesting expressions of interest from the private sector imminently for the 30 year concession contract to design build and operate South Hampshire’s Rapid Transit (SHRT) system.
The 14km long, $266M tram line includes a 1km long immersed tube tunnel under Portsmouth Harbour. The client is expecting interest from JVs and told T&TI that the tunnelling contractor will be a ‘major player’ in its line up.
Currently the preliminary design for the tunnel is subject to revisions following the British Navy’s request to place the tunnel lower in the harbour floor to allow new aircraft carriers the necessary clearance to negotiate entering Portsmouth Harbour, a strategic UK naval base. The tunnel will have to be placed in a dredged channel some 1.5m –2m deeper than in the present design to allow this. The client is currently assessing the cost implications and is in talks with the UK’s Ministry of Defence and told T&TI that the $56M tunnel price could rise by some $5M.
As yet it is still uncertain whether Portsmouth will win the contract to house the new carriers. The base is in direct competition with Devonport Docks, a major naval base 240km to the south west.
