By Lynda Myer
Considering that on the Italian section of the Mont Cenis base tunnel the working process has officially commenced, on 18 December Italian minister for infrastructure and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini marked the start of operations at a ceremony where UXT, the consortium of Itinera, Ghella and Spie Batignolle, concluded the Lyon-Turin Business integrity and sustainability pact and the Mission-S Charter for workplace safety.
The two contracts govern the way TELT, the company commissioned by the Italian and French governments to manage the construction of the Lyon-Turin railway line, binds the supply chain to respect the fundamental principles of sustainable development set out by the UN Global Compact.
While the €1bn (US$1.08bn) works in August was granted to UXT, the contract, which involves the final tunneling package for the project, covers the 28.5km of tunneling works between Maddalena di Chiomonte and Susa.
In order to advancing the 91-month contract, as well as the two tubes of the base tunnel that includes the Maddalena 2 tunnel, where the TBMs will be started up, linking tunnels and a cut-and-cover tunnel at the eastern entrance to Susa, two dual-mode TBMs will be employed.
As one of the world’s longest rail tunnels, the 57.5km-long Mont Cenis base tunnel is already under construction on the French side, starting from the entrance at Saint-Julien-Mont-Denis. It is going to run for 45km in France and 12.5km in Italy.
According to TELT general director Maurizio Bufalini: “The project was building a piece of Europe. It is the result of the unceasing work of planners, contractors and local, regional and national public officials without whose effort and determination we would not be here today.”
The consortium companies represented excellence in large infrastructure works, particularly underground. We are proud to be part of this international project, which will be realized by using the very best professional skills and technologies and will promote the area and all its facilities with a view to growth and development,” said Gianni Luciani, president of Itinera, which is leading UXT.
