Close on the heels of winning legislative approval, London’s £16bn (US$31.3bn) Crossrail project plans this month to invite prequalified firms to bid for contracts as framework consultants and delivery partners, and it expects to make appointments by the end of the year.
The project developer, Cross London Rail Links (CLRL), said that the definition design for the scheme should be ready next month for the new consultant framework partners to manage a programme of work packages. The definition design is being finalised by the multi-disciplinary consultants that have been onboard during the passage of the Bill through Parliament.
Separately, CLRL plans to use Optimised Contractor Involvement (OCI) for the scheme to have trains running east-west through the heart of London from 2017-18.
Calls for expressions of interest were issued in April for returns in May, and both attracted “very positive” responses. Enabling works are to start next year and main construction in 2010. Seven TBMs are to drive the 6m i.d. twin bores for rail project over a total distance of 41.5km, and the first is to be launched in mid-2011.
The developer previously said that early talks with industry indicated there was no appetite for Design & Build contracts. The OCI approach is a development of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), and the client said “the aim is to engage the contractor at the optimal time before construction commences”.
CLRL added that OCI should help get the right balance of design needed before a project is put to tender but still leave scope for contractor and supply chain ideas.
The bored tunnels packages are between: Royal Oak and Farringdon; Limmo and Farringdon (which may also include Stepney Green to Pudding Mill Lane if this section is not let separately); and, Plumstead to North Woolwich. The tubes are to run generally at depths of 20m-25m but will go down to 30m-35m and reach 40m-50m in east London.
Crossrail will also include eight underground stations. Five stations in central London will be constructed by SCL with steel fibre reinforcement for primary and secondary linings. The stations will typically be 245m long and of 95m2 in section. There will also be three box stations, including the Woolwich box that was reintroduced through private sector intercession and sponsorship.
