ISRAEL: Project authority NTA has selected a Chinese-Israeli joint venture to undertake civil works for the Red Line of the Tel Aviv light metro. The joint venture comprises the China Railway Tunnel Group subsidiary of China Railway Group (51%) and the Solel Boneh Infrastructure subsidiary of Shikun & Binui Group (49%). The design-build contract is valued at 3·1bn shekels.
The scope includes boring 11 km of 5·5 m diameter twin tunnels linked by 16 cross passages, as well as six underground stations. The stations are to be designed by NTA.
The 23 km Red Line will link Petakh Tikva, to the northeast of Tel Aviv, with Bat Yam to the south; it is expected to open for traffic in 2021. Seven more lines are planned for the city.
