A new 4.24km long tube is to be built alongside the existing Kaiser Wilhelm tunnel in Frankfurt, and the older one refurbished, according to outline plans in a bid call by state rail authority Deutsche Bahn (DB).
Bids are sought to construct the approximately 10m diameter rail tunnel and refurbish the existing tunnel with a reinforced concrete lining to approximately 9m wide. The existing tunnel is just over 4km long.
An open session for briefing to interested parties has been set for 22 August. The budget set for the project is US$219M (excl VAT) and the prospective start date is viewed as May 2008 for completion within six years.
Geology along the alignment consists partly of slate and clay-shale with a 250m long loose zone. Cover to the tunnel ranges from only about 10m up to 250m.
Elsewhere in Germany, expressions of interest are sought on an anticipated 14 month contract starting 2008 in the state of North Rhine Westphalia to undertake road tunnel works and drainage improvement on the A59.
Work activities will involve 8.9km of formwork, 7300m³ of concrete, 960 tonnes of steel reinforcement plus drainage, road construction and earthworks.
