By Ashley Karen
Tisséo, the mass transportation system operator, has granted a €352 million contract to the Horizon consortium to provide an essential element of the expanded Toulouse metro.
The Horizon joint venture is directed by French contractor Bouygues Travaux Publics (65%) and contains foundations and tunneling specialists Bessac, Soltenache Bachy France and Soltenache Bachy Tunnels (35%).
The JV will undertake engineering work on batch 4 of the future line C of the Toulouse metro, with the scope of work comprising the construction of two tunnels and four stations.
A tunnel boring machine is said to be utilized to build a 4,160m-long tunnel with an internal diameter of 8.5m, and also a 650m-long tunnel will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method.
As well as the construction of stations at L’Ormeau, Montaudran, Limayrac-Cité de l’Espace, and Jean Rieux, the venture is authorized to deliver three ancillary structures and galleries, which will link Montaudran to the shorter tunnel.
Bouygues stated about the project: “In addition to the complexity inherent in underground works, the main challenges of this project, which is being carried out on an urban site, are the phased construction of the end cut-and-cover tunnel through which the TBM must start digging and an interface with the viaduct construction site at the end of the tunnel at Montaudran.”
The group argues its environmental commitment will see it preserving trees wherever possible, plus sorting, removing, and processing bored material for reuse through local recycling channels.
