Bid deadline for JVs wanting to finance, build, operate and transfer the Bosphorus Highway Tunnel Crossing is 12 June, and it is understood that some interested parties have dropped out due to risk, such as a lack of site investigation data in the brief tender period.
To be located south of the Marmaray rail crossing, which is being constructed as an immersed tube, the client favours that the subsea road tunnel be a single bore, not too dissimilar to the double-decked A86 in Paris. The total length of the route is about 5.5km, which includes approximately 3.3km of TBM-driven tunnel of 11.4m i.d., 12.4m excavated diameter.
Ground breaking is earmarked for August and geological data has not being issued before the bid deadline. Lacking such information, interested parties are aware the anticipated budget for the scheme, excluding approach roads, is US$460M. With everything included, the cost jumps to about US$800M.
