London Underground has announced the joint venture between contractors Laing O’Rourke and Ferrovial as preferred bidder for £600m Northern Line extension scheme.
The shortlisted bidders for the project were:
-a consortium of Laing O’Rourke and Spanish contractor Ferrovial;
-a joint venture between Costain and Sir Robert McAlpine;
-a Balfour Beatty and Bam consortium;
-and a consortium of Bechtel and Austrian firm Strabag
A Transport for London spokesman said: “Following negotiations with the two remaining bidders for the Northern Line Extension design and build contract, London Underground has selected Ferrovial Agroman & Laing O’Rourke Joint Venture as the preferred bidder.
“Contract award is planned for late August 2014. Other tenderers have been notified and should we fail to reach agreement with the preferred bidder London Underground may reopen negotiations with those who have been stood down.”
The new tunnels will link to the existing railway south of Kennington station from a section of track used by terminating trains known as the Kennington Loop.
The planned extension will run 3.1km along the northbound section and 3.25km on the southbound route including crossover and stabling tunnels west of the terminus at Battersea.
The project will see the construction of two new stations at Battersea and Nine Elms, tunneling and track work, installation of lifts and escalators, power supply and station fit out work; and design and build of the required civil engineering.
The construction work for the Northern line extension is set to start in spring 2015.
Subject to funding and permission to build and operate the extension, the new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea could be open to public by 2020.
Photo Source: Construction Enquirer