FRANCE: RFF has awarded a major civil works contract for Phase 2 of LGV Est européene, the high speed line connecting Paris with Strasbourg. The 7∙5 km Lot 47 is to be built by the Dodin Campenon Bernard Construction joint venture including Spie Batignolles, Vinci and Cegelec under a contract worth €184∙3m.
Lot 47 includes one of the major structures on Phase 2, the 4 km twin-bore Saverne tunnel under the Vosges mountains. There is also a 270 m viaduct over the course of the Haspelbaechel.
With work now underway on lots 41, 42, 43A and 44, RFF hopes to award the remaining five civil works contracts for Phase 2 by the start of 2011. Running for 106 km from Baudrecourt to Vendenheim, the new line will cut Paris – Strasbourg journey times by a further 30 min.
