By Ashley Karen
Implenia has won a second tunnelling package on Oslo’s Fornebu Line. The K2D Skøyen-Vækerø project contains approximately 1.2km of tunnelling, an escape tunnel and the Skøyen subway station construction. As reported, the contract worth is almost €117m (US$124m).
Implenia will begin operation on this section of the new metro line later this year. Nonetheless, the project is expected to be finished in 2025.
Implenia is already constructing the first part of the Fornebu Line, the 2.3km-long K2A Fornebu-Lysaker, which is due to be finished at the end of 2023.
The global head of tunnelling at Implenia, Erwin Scherer, claimed: “This is a huge win for Implenia and our Norwegian team, building on our experience in successfully managing large and complex infrastructure projects in Norway”.
Oslo City Government highlighted environmental protection and sustainability in the tender project.
Scherer declared: “Sustainability is one of Implenia’s five corporate values and is becoming increasingly important also for infrastructure projects.”
The 8km Fornebu Line is claimed to be the most extensive transport project in Oslo for 20 years, and the biggest subway tunnelling project in Norway for 50 years.
It will link the Fornebu peninsula’s center to the Norwegian capital at Majorstuen, with six new stations: Vækerø, Skøyen, Telenor Arena, Lysaker, Flytårnet and Fornebu Senter. It will merge with the current network at Majorstuen.
Oslo City Government claims the project is complicated and extensive with long tunnels, large rock caverns, deep construction pits, shafts, structures, and comprehensive technical installations.
The network passes through complex geology with folding structures, faults, deep gouges, clay and low rock cover.
In April last year, Norwegian construction and civil engineering firm, Veidekke was assigned to construct the Lysaker to Vækerø tunnel. Cowi, in a JV with Multiconsult, is designing the line.
