VINCI and HOCHTIEF, in a joint venture, have been awarded the design and build contract for Sydhavn Metro Line (Line 4) in Copenhagen. The client Metroselskabet has awarded the contract to an equal-parts joint venture consisting of VINCI Construction Grands Projets and HOCHTIEF Infrastructure. HOCHTIEF will be the technical leader of the joint venture. The EUR 460 million contract was signed on February 28, 2018 in Copenhagen.

“Eighteen years after the delivery of the Øresund tunnel and two years after the award of the Femern tunnel, it’s our honor to continue to work for the Danish people’s daily mobility with a new line of underground metro, especially with our historical partner HOCHTIEF”, says Eric Chambraud, Operations Director Northern Europe, British Isles and Americas at VINCI Construction Grands Projets.

“We are very pleased to have this opportunity of demonstrating our tunneling expertise in Copenhagen again. This contract continues our successful activities in the Danish infrastructure market. We are looking forward to working once again together with VINCI”, says Riku Tauriainen, Executive Vice President of HOCHTIEF Infrastructure GmbH Europe West.

This design and build project for the southern metro line is a six-year mandate that calls for the construction of dual 4.4-kilometer tunnels using two earth-pressure tunnel boring machines (TBM) along with five underground stations and two crossover structures. The project also includes electrical and mechanical systems, architectural interior works, and in-tunnel ventilation.

The tunnels will have an interior diameter of 4.9 meters and an exterior diameter of 5.5 meters. This metro-network extension south of the Danish capital (Sydhavn or M4) will be connected to the main ring line (Cityringen).

VINCI and HOCHTIEF have brought together their skill sets in design, project management, and underground works to build this new metro line. For the first time in Denmark, 3D modeling will be used extensively as early as the bid-submission phase by the consortium. VINCI and HOCHTIEF have a longstanding tradition of collaboration, including on metro projects (such as the one in Athens, for example). More recently, the two groups have joined forces on projects in Greece and in other countries outside Europe.

Since May 2016, the VINCI Group has led the joint venture entrusted with the task of building the world’s longest underwater tunnel: the Femernbelt, which is 18 kilometers long and will link Denmark and Germany. In 1996, VINCI delivered the Storebælt railway tunnels connecting Copenhagen to the mainland. In 2000, VINCI delivered the Øresund tunnel connecting Denmark and Sweden. VINCI Construction Grands Projets is a world-leading design-build specialist in urban mobility with current metro projects for Hong Kong, Cairo in Egypt, Doha and Lusail in Qatar, and, more recently, Lot GC02 for Line 14 South and Lot T3C for Line 15 of Grand Paris Express.

In Copenhagen HOCHTIEF, in a joint venture, is currently executing the Metro Cityringen Branch-off to Nordhavn tunnel project. In the capital of Denmark, the company also built an approximately four-kilometer-long district heating tunnel. HOCHTIEF has already been successfully operating on the Scandinavian infrastructure market for many years. For instance, the company was responsible for building the Eastern Bridge over the Great Belt. Another milestone is the construction of the Øresund Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö, in which HOCHTIEF also had a significant participation.

(Photo credit: Christian Schmidt-Ramussen)

• 4.6 km of tunnel to be excavated using a tunnel boring machine
• Construction of the new Kremlin Bicêtre Hôpital station
• Contract value: almost €400 million (excluding tax)

The consortium led by VINCI Construction (Dodin Campenon Bernard, lead company; VINCI Construction France; VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Botte Fondations), together with Spie batignolles (Spie batignolles Génie Civil and Spie batignolles Fondations), has been awarded a major contract as part of the Grand Paris Express programme. The RATP has selected this consortium to execute works package GC02 of the future Line 14 South between Olympiades (in the 13th arrondissement of Paris) and Orly Airport.

The contract, worth almost €400 million (excluding tax), requires the use of an earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine to excavate a 4.6 km tunnel between Maison Blanche Paris XIII futur station and the TBM starting shaft at Jean Prouvé. It also includes construction of the new Kremlin Bicêtre Hôpital station and five ventilation and emergency shafts. The contract is scheduled to last 72 months.

A large-scale project in an urban environment

The GC02 works package site cuts through Paris, Kremlin Bicêtre, Gentilly, Villejuif and L’Haÿ-les-Roses. It also passes near Kremlin Bicêtre Hospital and the A6 motorway. Integrating the worksite into this environment is a major challenge that has led to numerous consultation meetings being held between the RATP, the Société du Grand Paris (SGP) and all the cities, local authorities and residents involved.

Innovative and ambitious social integration programme

This package’s works will create almost 250 jobs. Significant measures are planned for the integration of around 50 long-term unemployed people, with some 83,000 hours of training and support to be provided over the course of the project. In 2011, VINCI set up ViE (VINCI insertion Emploi), an entity specialising in social and professional integration, to help Group companies with this aspect of their contracts. In addition, the “Chantiers et Territoires Solidaires” endowment fund created by VINCI will support public interest projects implemented in the vicinity of the worksites. Spie batignolles is also strongly committed to facilitating the social and professional integration of marginalised people, notably through its Fondation Spie batignolles.

Line 14 South, the link with Orly Airport

A missing link between central Paris and Orly Airport, the Line 14 South will be used by more than 260,000 residents of Paris and the Val de Marne and Essonne départements. It will provide connections with metro Line 7, Line C of the Paris RER regional express system, Line 7 of the tram system and Lines 15 South and 18 of the Grand Paris Express rapid transit system. It will create a fast link between Paris and Orly Airport, which is essential for 2024 when the city will host the Olympic Games.

VINCI Construction and Spie batignolles, two players already working on major metro projects

VINCI Construction and Spie batignolles are participating in the extension of Lines 4, 12, and 14 of the Paris metro, which is managed by the RATP. In addition, VINCI Construction and Spie batignolles, in a consortium, have won works packages T3C (€926 million) and T2D (€156 million) for Line 15 South of the Grand Paris Express programme, which is managed by the SGP.

VINCI Construction, as leader of a joint venture with the Andritz Hydro electromechanical company, has won the contract to build the Abdelmoumen pumped storage hydroelectric plant (PSP) located 70 km from Agadir, Morocco.

The €284 million pumped-storage scheme is part of the plan to develop and integrate renewable energies in Morocco. The contract covers construction surveys, civil engineering works, supply of materials and pumping equipment, assembly, testing and commissioning.

The civil engineering works to be carried out by VINCI Construction include earthworks for two reservoirs, excavation for the powerhouse to be embedded in the slope, and installation of the penstock pipe over a distance of 3 km, including 1 km underground. New roads will be built and several others will be refurbished to provide access to the facilities both during construction and during operation of the future site. The electromechanical equipment, for which Andritz Hydro is responsible, includes two 175 MW Francis turbines specially developed in the company’s laboratory and a high voltage substation.

A total of 840 people will be recruited for the 48-month project, including 780 to be hired locally.

A training programme will be set up to ensure worksite safety and quality.

The Abdelmoumen PSP: a pumped-storage energy solution

The water stored in an uphill tank will be released into a 3-kilometre transfer line (penstock and galleries) and travel on a natural slope to a tank about 550 metres downhill. A 350 MW hydroelectric plant will be built along the penstock between the two reservoirs. The reversible plant will generate electricity when operating in turbine mode and pump water from the lower to the upper reservoir in pumping mode. The system will thus generate renewable energy on demand. The system can be switched between pumping and turbine mode up to 20 times a day, depending on the amount of surplus electricity available or the needs of the Moroccan electricity grid.

VINCI, a long-term benchmark provider in Morocco

In Morocco, VINCI operates primarily via its subsidiaries Sogea-Satom and VINCI Energies. Sogea-Satom subsidiaries Sogea Maroc and Dumez Maroc have been operating in the country for 90 years. Sogea Maroc delivers solutions and services in four business areas (building, engineering structures, industrial civil engineering and hydraulic engineering). Its notable past projects include civil engineering works for the Jorf Lafsar chemical plant and the Renault plant in Tangier and the company is currently building the high-speed railway line stations in Tangier and Kenitra. Dumez Maroc for its part specialises in marine works and recently built the new fishing port in Casablanca. VINCI Energies Maroc began operating in Morocco 70 years ago and is a major provider in the country’s electrification programme initiated in 1996. It is also the leading developer of high voltage and extra high voltage electricity generation, transmission, transformation and distribution infrastructure.

VINCI Construction subsidiaries, VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Bessac (Soletanche Bachy) have won the contract to design and build a 10 km treated water transmission pipeline to supply the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, the economic capital of Vietnam. The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank and Sawaco (Saigon Water Corporation) as programme manager.

The contract, signed on 24 August in Ho Chi Minh City, covers detailed project design; production of prefabricated reinforced concrete pipe sections with an outside diameter of 3 metres; pipe installation by means of pipe jacking; drilling of 16 shafts; and construction of 11 connections and five stubs for future connections to the network. The pipeline route runs along metro Line 1, currently under construction, and under the Saigon River.

The combined experience of VINCI Construction Grands Projets in water project management and Bessac in microtunnelling has made it possible to optimise the project and offer the client an economic solution delivered on time following 3.5 years of works.

VINCI Construction Grands Projets has supported Vietnam by carrying out a large number of sewer projects for such cities as Thai Nguyen and Hoi An (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in 2016, Vung Tau in 2013, and Ha Dong in 2008.

VINCI Construction Grands Projets has been informed that frauds and scams have been attempted, in France and worldwide, particularly involving the misuse of its identity and even the identity of one of its employees.

The fraudsters send e-mails to suppliers and/or service providers requesting the opening of customer accounts or containing orders, using forged addresses such as« @vinci-constructions.com »,« @vinciconstruction-projets.fr » or « @vinci-grands-projets.net ».

The e-mails may be signed by persons who actually hold positions within the Group (with the name, address and company registration number of Eurovia or one of its subsidiaries), and may be accompanied by VINCI Construction Grands Projets legal documents.

These are attempted frauds: VINCI Construction Grands Projets only references its suppliers in the context of strict and rigorous procedures, and do not canvass them.

If you are the victim of such actions or of any other suspicious behavior, you are advised to inform us immediately using the dedicated e-mail address: alert-fraud@vinci.com and to report the matter to the competent authorities.

Société du Grand Paris awarded the joint venture made up of VINCI Construction (VINCI Construction Grands Projets, Dodin Campenon Bernard, VINCI Construction France and Botte Fondations), associated with Spie Batignolles, a major Grand Paris Express contract to build the T3C section of the Line 15 South. The section will link the underground Fort d’Issy-Vanves-Clamart and the future Villejuif-Louis Aragon stations. This €926 million contract covers construction of a tunnel with a length of more than 8 kilometres of five new stations and eight shafts.

A large project in an urban environment

The T3C section is an outsized project calling for substantial logistics. It will involve two 10 metres diameter earth pressure balanced tunnel boring machines operating simultaneously, removal of 3.2 million tonnes of spoil and placing of more than 470,000 m³ of concrete.
The Villejuif Gustave-Roussy station, whose architecture and dimensions (65 metres diameter, 42 metres depth) epitomize the section, will connect Line 15 South and Line 14 South.»

This international joint venture consists of TBI companies Mobilis and Croonwolter&dros (25% each), DIMCO (DEME Infra Marine Contractors) (25%) and VINCI Construction Grands Projets (25%). The value of the contract is 492 million euros.

The Rijnland Route is the new road connection from Katwijk, via the A44, to the A4 at Leiden. The Rijnland Route is being constructed to improve the accessibility and traffic flow in the region, and stimulate economic growth.

Comol5 will be responsible for the reconstruction of the Leiden West motorway junction and the construction of the 4 km new road N434, including a 2.2 kilometre-length bored tunnel. Comol5 will also implement 12 km of motorway widening and adaptations to the A4 and A44 required for construction of the Rijnland Route. These will be made under traffic with pertaining interchanges. In addition to construction, which will be completed in about 6 years, the contract comprises maintenance for 15 years.

The project partners of Comol5 have ample experience with designing and developing large infrastructural projects such as bridges and tunnels, particularly bored tunnels. Projects they were involved in included a.o. construction of the Coentunnel and the Delft railway tunnel in the Netherlands by TBI and DIMCO, as well as the duplex tunnel (bored double-deck tunnel) in the A86 near Paris by VINCI.

Comol5’s tender turned out to be the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT). This means that not only price but also added value was considered. Criteria that play a role include limiting environmental nuisance, traffic nuisance and risks.

The opening of this infrastructure connecting Louisville, Kentucky and southern Indiana improves traffic flow and safety. The concession consortium led by VINCI Highways, VINCI Concessions’ subsidiary, is responsible for operation and maintenance of a major portion of the East End Crossing infrastructure for a period of 35 years. The consortium will be remunerated via availability-based fees.

The project was carried out under a PPP contract with a value of nearly $1 billion (€956 billion) signed in March 2013 by Indiana Finance Authority and the concession company WVB East End Partners, made up, in equal shares, of VINCI Highways, Walsh Investors and Bilfinger PI. It is one of the largest transportation improvement projects in the United States and VINCI’s first road infrastructure PPP in that country.

The opening of the motorway to the public marks the culmination of four years of design and construction work carried out by a joint venture made up of Walsh Construction (60%) and VINCI Construction Grands Projets (40%).

The new infrastructure includes a 762 metres cable-stayed bridge over the Ohio River with two iconic diamond-shaped piers, a 512 metres dual-tube tunnel on the Kentucky approach to the bridge, 19 standard engineering structures and road network and associated infrastructure upgrades. The construction phase was successful in terms of safety, with more than 1,100 days worked without lost-time accident.

Exemplary social, environmental and economic impact

The social and economic impact of the project, planned for half a century, will be reflected through the creation of thousands of jobs in the two states in coming years. In November 2016 the project received an EnvisionTM Platinum Award (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure – Harvard Graduate School of Design) for its sustainable design, construction and operation.

The handover of this infrastructure constitutes a further success for VINCI’s design-build and concession model. United States is the Group’s fourth market.

The construction works, the addition of 65 kilometers of third lanes and the construction of 2 kilometers of 4 bidirectional tunnels, are estimated to last 5 years and will be carried out by a joint-venture consisting of VINCI Construction Grands Projets / VINCI Construction Terrassement (50%) and Conconcreto (50%). The whole infrastructure will be operated and maintained by the concessionaire, formed by VINCI Highways (50%), Constructora Conconcreto (25%) and Industrial Conconcreto (25%).

In July 2015, VINCI has announced a strategic partnership with Constructora Conconcreto, a leading Colombian construction and real estate development company. The partnership involves VINCI’s acquisition of a 20% stake in Constructora Conconcreto via a reserved capital increase. VINCI’s ambition is to put down long-term roots in Colombia, one of the most dynamic countries in South America. For about a decade, the country has regularly recorded annual GDP growth in excess of 4%. The construction sector is particularly promising, with volume expected to increase by 5% annually in coming years.

Leading worldwide shipping group CMA CGM, which has held the concession for the port of Kingston since 1 July 2016, selected the joint venture to carry out the project.

The contract covers, first and foremost, the refurbishment, reinforcement and upgrade to seismic standards of 1,200 metres of quays. The joint venture will also carry out dredging work in the access channel. The projects will be completed in 25 months. The operation will increase the alongside depth of the quays to enable them to handle container ships of larger capacity.

Coming a few days after the opening of the expanded Panama Canal, which accommodates the world’s largest container ships, the contract to extend and refurbish the port of Kingston is a strategic move for the region. The port of Kingston is ideally located near the Panama Canal at the crossroads between the North/South and East/West sea lanes and will thus become one of the three main container terminals in the Caribbean.

This contract marks further cooperation between VINCI and CMA CGM. In 2008, VINCI handed over the high-rise building designed by architect Zaha Hadid in Marseille that now houses the head office of CMA CGM.

CMA CGM will have the benefit of VINCI’s experience in Jamaica, where the VINCI Group has operated for nearly three decades and where VINCI Construction Grands Projets notably built several sewer and water treatment structures over the past 15 years.