By Lynda Myer
The second section of Bilbao’s Metro Line 5 contract was awarded to a joint venture of Acciona, Sacyr, Altuna y Uria and Bycam by ETS Euskal Trenbide Sarea (the Basque Railway Network).
Linking the neighbourhoods of Aperribai and Galdakao, this route is due to be 2.8km, while determined budget for its tunneling contract, is €88.1m and includes the platform and track superstructure, Bengoetxe and Galdakao stations, and the Olabarrieta and Abusu ventilation and emergency galleries.
The Galdakao’s Lehendakari Agirre plaza will be location of a cavern station with two access canyons and Bengoetxe station is slated be dug by cut and cover method.
The scheduled date for commencing work is September and it is going to be completed in 48 months. The inauguration date is 2027.
The three sections of works on the new Line 5 are: The first section, from Sarratu-Aperribai, is 1.54km long and above ground. From the Sarratu (Basauri) intermodal station, an interchange terminal between Euskotren (Basque Railways) and Metro Bilbao, Line 5 will run entirely underground, crossing under the Ibaizabal river at the point where it joins the Nervión. The third section, Galdakao-Hospital, is a 1.93km tunnel.
