The cross-border section of the Lyon-Turino railway line is a new railway line of about 67 km linking Saint Jean de Maurienne in France to Suze in Italy and Bussoleno where it connects to the historic Turino-Modane line. In particular, the line requires the excavation of a 57.5 km single-track twin-tube tunnel known as the “Montcenis base tunnel”.

On the French side, the civil engineering of the base tunnel is divided into 3 operational worksites.

The construction management of the 08-operating site, led by a consortium formed by Egis tunnels (leader)/ Ingérop/Alpina/Géodata, includes the construction of the following works:

• The construction of a site platform at Villard Clément at the head of the future French side
• Preparatory construction for access to the future tunnel head (high-level temporary lining, mass earthworks, special ground reinforcement work),
• Excavation and lining of the two tubes of the base tunnel and the linking galleries over about 3 km,
• The construction of a cut-and-cover tunnel about 140 m long at the connection between the entrance to the base tunnel and the cut-and-cover tunnel under the A43 motorway already constructed as part of another construction package,
• The construction of the networks and water drainage system at the tunnel exit, the backfilling and definitive site installations

Characteristics

• Multiple interfaces work with the existing (buildings, infrastructures, networks) and other construction sites of the project (construction civil engineering sites, processing of excavated materials)
• Carrying out additional geotechnical and topographical studies, ICPE (Classified facilities for Environmental protection) files

Assistance to the project owner for the LSE (Water Law) and CNPN (National Council for the Protection of Nature) files.

The Chilterns Tunnel is a 15.8km bored tunnel. There will be four vent shafts and one intervention shaft located along the proposed line of route – Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham, Little Missenden and Chesham Road. Its southern portal is located near Maple Cross. Its site will also house a compound during construction with all material from the bored tunnel coming here to be treated prior to being used elsewhere along the line of route. The northern portal is adjacent to South Heath.

Rendel/Ingerop are responsible for developing and delivering the Scheme Design of the Civil Works in Stage 1 followed by the Detailed Design in Stage 2, for the Design-and-Build contractor, ALIGN. Align is comprised of the three Civil Contractors in Joint Venture (Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, Volkerstevin).

The services provided include design of the Colne Valley viaduct and other structural elements (e.g. abutments); design of associated approach embankments; geotechnical modelling, ground risk assessments and earthworks; soil-structure interaction analysis for piled foundations and earth-retaining structures; geological interpretation of GI data; development of ground models; highway designs for road diversions, realignments, new junctions, new access roads to compounds and transformer sites, highway scope definition, pavements, emergency hard standings, road drainage and vehicle swept path analysis;  track alignments; production of 2D drawings and 3D BIM models of the designs to meet the ultimate client’s BIM and data management requirements; Environmental assessments; hydraulic modelling for river realignments / diversions; acoustic modelling for the design of Noise Barriers.

Rendel services included Management Support Consultancy (MSC), advising the BBA in any activities requiring government actions or permissions, where they have programme implications and the following management functions:

• Project management including coordination, reporting, monitoring of progress and plans,
• Budgetary and financial management
• Review of Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plan
• Reviewing payment certificates if required
• Contractual advice and settlement of disputes
• Implementation of the Social Safeguard Plans (environment, resettlement, )
• Design and management of Monitoring and Evaluation(M&E) programme for socio-economic aspects designed to minimise noise, and noise barriers were

Ingerop was the team leader for all tramway-related works : infrastructures, associated urban works, roads, bridges, rolling stock, energy, operating system and equipments, depot and maintenance center…

The EPC contracted has led to a single general contractor contract, in charge of all facilities, construction, rolling stock supply, equipments…

Rendel was responsible for the independent design checking, site supervision and contract administration following the FIDIC rules (Contract No. 2). We carried out an independent design check of all works including the main bridge and the approach viaduct to UK HA Standards (Category III) and Eurocodes as well as the checking of highway and M&E design.  Rendel supervised the construction using an experienced, site-based team supported by visiting expert advisors. This included ensuring that the design complied with the employer’s requirements and specified design criteria and that the works were constructed in accordance with the contract, which incorporated the FIDIC Conditions of contract for Plant and Design-Build (First Edition 1999).  Rendel was also responsible for supervision of the adjoining Bulgarian infrastructure works.

Applicable codes, standards and specifications:

FIDIC, EN, BS, HA DMRB (UK Highways Agency- Design Manual for Roads and Bridges), HA MCHW (UK Highways Agency -Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works), UIC (International Union of Railways Standards)

• Lead Consultant
• Duties include
• Other post-financial close services

Technical audit
Visual inspections – roads,drainage, structures, earthworks
Coordination of road coringsurvey
Review of project technicalcompliance
Recommendations forimprovement