| NEWS
Eiffage, NGE-BTP mark Toulouse Metro milestones
Zojila mountain tunnel finish INDIA - Final breakthrough was recently achieved on the Zojila Tunnel project in northern India. The 13.2km-long road tunnel is constructed as a single-tube for bi-directional traffic in the mountain setting at around 3,520m altitude. The contractor is Megha Engineering & Infrastructures. Tunnelling was by the New Austrian
Tunnelling Method (NATM) in geology comprising dozens of different rock formations. Excavation of the 9.5m-wide, 7.57m-high road tunnel had been under way for nearly six years. The tunnel is to provide an all-weather road link between Srinagar and Ladakh, ensuring uninterrupted access throughout the year.
TBM ‘Lise Enjalbert’ arrives at the future Blagnac station on Toulouse Metro’s Line C project. PHOTO CREDIT: Stéphane Bouquet, via Eiffage/NGE-BTP
FRANCE - Eiffage Génie Civil and NGE-BTP have achieved more breakthroughs and relaunches with TBMs on Toulouse Metro’s Line C project. Three TBMs are being operated by the consortium on the metro tunnelling project. The Toulouse Metro Line C
project involves building a new 27km-long metro line in the metropolitan area, with 21 stops, including five interchanges with railway stations. Lot 1, which covers Linc C from
the Colomiers auxiliary structure, located 100m from Colomiers Gare station, to the Laporte auxiliary structure, includes the design and construction of a 3.85km-long tunnel, three stations, shafts and four ancillary structures. Lot 2 covers the section from
the Laporte auxiliary structure to Raynal station. The work includes the design and construction of an 8.4km-long tunnel, six stations, shafts, five auxiliary structures at intersections and a connecting tunnel to the maintenance site. TBM ‘Lise Enjalbert’ arrived
at the future Blagnac station in early June, marking the machine’s second breakthrough. The progress follows the first breakthrough after a 950m-long drive between Ponts Jumeaux and
Sept Deniers Stade Toulousain. The consortium is preparing ‘Lise Enjalbert’ for the final drive to Puits Laporte, where the machine will be retrieved. In early July, TBM ‘Berthe de
Puybusque’ was relaunched from its original starting point at La Vache Gare–Le Grand Marche, this time to head towards Raisin station. In April, TBM ‘Berthe de
Puybusque’ completed its first drive – of 2.5km in length – to arrive at Ponts Jumeaux. The TBM then needed to be dismantled and moved by road convoy in a major logistical exercise and then reassembled for relaunch. While the cutterhead and other shield components were lifted to the surface, the five backup gantries were pulled back through the built tunnel to the starting point and repositioned. The next drive is around 2.1km-long and the TBM will pass through Lycee Toulouse- Lautrec station. In May, TBM ‘Jeanne Marvig’
made its second breakthrough on the project, arriving at the future Fontaine Lumineuse station after starting at the Colomiers Gare shaft. It has resumed tunnelling and is advancing towards the Saint- Martin du Touch station, and its final destination, the Laporte shaft.
Forsmark waste caverns proceed SWEDEN - Skanska has signed a contract with Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB (SKB) for the construction of new rock caverns for the short-lived radioactive waste (SFR) final repository in Forsmark, Sweden. The parties have had an agreement
covering design (Phase 1) and this has been supplemented for construction (Phase 2), which involves several stages and separate contracts. The Phase 2 supplemental contract covers the construction of six new rock caverns, each around 240m–275m long at depths of around 120m–140m. The agreement covers rock works, civil
works, earthworks, water and sanitation works, and tunnel lining. Construction starts in Q3 for completion before 2029. Test operations are set for 2030–31.
Gotthard north section milestone SWITZERLAND – The Implenia-Frutiger team on the Gotthard road tunnel project has completed a 3.8km-long TBM drive for the northern section of the new tube. The contractor launched the 12.3m-diameter Herrenknecht TBM at Göschenen in February 2025 and achieved breakthrough into the section of the North Fault Zone. The TBM, ‘Alessandra’, will be readied to drive the next section. The works include cutterhead overhaul and pull-through across the approximately 400m-wide fault zone before relaunch on the other side. Lot 241 also includes various tunnel and cavern excavations, including for concrete plant and lining production. Federal Roads Office’s (FRO) new tube
runs 70m east of the existing road tunnel, which has been carrying traffic in both directions and later will be refurbished.
August 2026 | 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45
