The verdict is in: Bouygues TP has been chosen by the Metropolitan Tender Commission to build the much-criticized 3.2 km tunnel between the Port and Grosso.
Will this decision be enough to silence the vibrant controversy among the many opponents of the “underground”? Will the Socialist Party’s collection of 15,000 signatures remain merely a testimony, or will there still be protests, possibly even attempts (but which ones?) to block the work, which is now very close to starting?
The offers were judged based on three criteria: The economic value of the offer (50%), the technical quality of the offer (35%), and sustainable development and the impacts on the city’s functionality (15%).
Based on these criteria, the Tender Commission decided to accept the offer from the THAUMASIA group, with BOUYGUES TP as the representative.
The amount is €270.9 million excluding VAT (2013 value), which is €17.9 million less than the overall financial package announced during the public enquiry, i.e., €288.8 million in 2013 value.
This offer appears even more competitive as it incorporates significant constraints and secures the community, because it includes: The maritime evacuation and treatment of waste, estimated at €20 million, and a provision of €16.7 million to deal with construction uncertainties and unforeseen events.
Its strengths concern both technical proficiency with an optimized tunnel construction period (11 months), allowing a reduction in the duration of the installations at the port; an equally optimized approach to station construction, with a method that reduces noise pollution and restores road functions more quickly;
The group led by BOUYGUES TP consists of internationally renowned French companies and local firms such as Colas Midi-Méditerranée, SNAF routes, and Garelli.
It also has reassuring references such as the Miami road tunnel (2 tubes of 1.2 km), the Hong Kong metro (1.2 km, and Cairo line 3, 10.8 km), and the Changjiang expressway tunnels (2 tubes of 7.5 km), the Mont Sion tunnel (3.1 km), and the Sheung Shui Tunnel (3.5 km);
The work will begin in the 2nd half of 2014 for a planned commissioning in 2017.
