Vinci-led group named preferred bidder for Denmark-Germany tunnel
04/03/2016 15:27
BERLIN, March 4 (Reuters) - A consortium led by French
construction company Vinci SGEF.PA has been named preferred
bidder in a $10 billion project to build a rail and road tunnel
between Denmark and Germany, according to the company organising
the project.
The 19 km (11.8 mile) Fehmarn Belt Fixed link, connecting
the Danish island of Lolland to Fehmarn island on the German
side, was due to be completed in 2024 but faces delays due to
environmental protests in Germany that have held up approval of
the project.
The Vinci-led consortium, which also includes Denmark's Per
Aarsleff PAALb.CO and Belgium's CFE SE CFEB.BR , was picked
as preferred bidder for the under-water tunnel, state-owned
Femern A/S said in a statement on Friday.
A consortium led by Per Aarsleff, and also including Vinci
and CFE, was named preferred bidder for portals and ramps, and a
group including Boskalis BOSN.AS and Hochtief HOTG.DE is to
be put in charge of dredging and reclamation.
Femern said it aimed to sign binding contracts no later than
mid-May, but said construction would be postponed until the
German permits were in place. If Germany has not approved
construction by the end of 2019, the contracts can be
re-negotiated.
The tunnel project, to be partly funded by the European
Union, is expected to cost around 65 billion Danish crowns ($9.6
billion). It consists of a four-lane motorway and a double-track
railway.
($1 = 6.7801 Danish crowns)
(Reporting by Maria Sheahan and Markus Wacket; editing by
Adrian Croft)
((maria.sheahan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1286; Reuters
Messaging: maria.sheahan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: DENMARK GERMANY/TUNNEL