Century City-based engineering and infrastructure firm AECOM is taking on two new European construction projects, including what will be the longest rail tunnel in the world.
The tunnel is part of construction for 87 miles of high-speed rail line that will run from Lyon, in southern France, to Turin, in northern Italy.
AECOM late last month announced it is set to lead a joint venture to provide technical support for design, procurement and construction of the civil works rail systems and environmental protection measures to Tunnel Euralpin Lyon Turin, or TELT, a French and Italian consortium.
The centerpiece of the planned rail line is the 35.7-mile-long tunnel now under construction through the Alps. When completed, the tunnel will be 4 miles longer than the Channel Tunnel that connects southern England and northern France, and slightly longer than the 35.5-mile Gotthard Base Tunnel through the Swiss Alps that went into service in 2016.
Project backers say completion of the rail link will lead to improved safety and speed for passengers traveling between France and Italy, and would also result in the removal of nearly 1 million trucks per year between the two countries by transferring that cargo to rail.
“Providing safe, fast transport that reduces pollution and protects the environment, this railway will transform the way people and goods travel between France and Italy, building a legacy for generations to come,” Colin Wood, chief capability officer for AECOM’s Europe, Middle East and Africa unit, said in a statement.
The project nearly collapsed earlier this year when the Italian government, facing pressure from a populist coalition partner, considered withdrawing its support, according to the International Railway Journal, an industry publication. In July, however, the government decided to continue its support.
AECOM’s second new project will be for engineering and architecture design services on the expansion and renovation of an airport on the island of Sardinia, off the Italian coast.
AECOM did not disclose the prices of the contracts.
For the airport project, AECOM is leading a joint venture that includes SPEA Engineering of Milan, Italy, and Satta & Partners Archigroup of Arzachena, Sardinia. AECOM said it will oversee the entire project.
Geasar, the operator of the airport, said the upgrades will increase capacity at the facility and improve the efficient movement of passengers. The airport expects passenger traffic to increase to 4.5 million by 2030 and 6.2 million by 2040 from 3 million last year.
Improvements will include renovation and expansion of the existing passenger terminal, connecting an existing car rental terminal to the passenger terminal, ground access to the terminal and improvements to aircraft apron areas.
Gaesar will pay a base fee for design work of 2.53 million euros, equivalent to $2.8 million, according to SPEA Engineering’s website. SPEA did not give a total cost for the project design.
AECOM will staff the project from its offices in Spain and Italy.
“This is a project that will reposition AECOM at the forefront of airport engineering,” Javier Camy, AECOM country manager in Spain, said in a statement announcing the project.
