A team lead by Italy’s Astaldi Group has been awarded a $1.1bn rail tunnel contract in the Italian alps.
Astaldi and fellow Italian company Ghella split an 85% share in the scheme; three other firms, Cogeis, Oberosler Cav Pietro and PAC, each hold 5%.
The contract concerns the part of the Brenner railway tunnel that will run through the base of the eastern Alps beneath the Brenner Pass.
The job involves the construction of underground works from Franzensfeste in northern Italy to the Italian border with Austria.
An exploration tunnel and two mainline tunnels will be created, 23km of which will be dug using traditional methods, and 46km using mechanised excavation.
The Brenner Tunnel will cost $9.8bn, 40% of which is funded by the EU and 60% financed by funds made available by Italy and Austria.
When completed it will be the longest underground railway tunnel in the world, stretching from Franzensfeste to Innsbruck.
Image: A map of the Brenner Base Tunnel
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