OREANDA-NEWS. Implenia signed the contract for construction of the “Lot GC01” section of the Line 11 extension to the east of Paris today. Line 11 is run by the R?gie autonome des transports parisiens (RATP), the state operator of public passenger transport in Paris. This infrastructure contract forms part of the major "Grand Paris Express" project. Implenia is taking on the job together with consortium partners NGE (F), Demathieu & Bard (F) and Pizzarotti (IT). The contract is being funded by the Syndicat des transport d’?le-de-France (STIF, the body responsible for local public transport), the Soci?t? du Grand Paris and the Conseil G?n?ral de Seine-Saint-Denis.

The "Grand Paris Express" project aims to improve links between the French capital and neighbouring residential areas in the Greater Paris region (?le-de-France) by building a transport network of six driverless underground railway lines by 2030. The project will require 210 kilometres of tunnel and nearly 70 new underground stations. Further sections of the project – one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe – will be awarded over the next few years. Implenia, together with Pizzarotti, has been made technical lead for the tunnelling work on the “Lot GC01” section. A tunnel boring machine will drill a three-kilometre tunnel with an internal diameter of more than nine metres. A 200 meter-long section will be made using the cut and cover method. Implenia is also responsible together with its partners for the preparatory work for the four new M?tro stations, including excavation and the creation of diaphragm walls and shafts. Work begins in October 2016 and will take about four years to complete.

This project is an important acquisition for Implenia in the French market. Implenia has the technical expertise required for the project thanks to the many successful jobs it can refer to, including the era-defining Gotthard Base Tunnel project, which was officially completed this year, and the new U5 underground railway line in Berlin. This new project acquisition and the greater cooperation with capable partners in the French market puts Implenia in a good position to win further sections of the "Grand Paris Express" project.

Implenia, Switzerland’s leading construction and construction services company, also has a strong position in the German, Austrian and Scandinavian infrastructure markets. Established in 2006, Implenia can look back on around 150 years of construction tradition. It brings the expertise of its highly skilled sectoral and regional units together under the roof a company active throughout Europe. With its integrated business model and specialists operating in all areas of construction, the Group can manage a building project through its entire lifecycle and deliver work that is economical, integrated and customer-centric. The focus is on striking a sustainable balance between financial success and social and environmental responsibility.