Vinci JVs win more Grand Paris work

A joint venture (JV) of the French contractors Vinci Construction and Spie Batignolles has been awarded a €799 million contract to work on Line 18 of the Grand Paris Express, by the Société du Grand Paris (SGP).

Another Vinci JV – this one between the Eurovia subsidiary ETF and Vinci Energies subsidiary Mobility – then picked up a €120 million contract to build track and overhead contact line equipment on Line 15 South.

The Grand Paris Express project is reportedly the biggest urban mobility project currently underway in Europe and will see the development of four rapid transit rail lines (lines 15, 16, 17 and 18) within the Ile-de-France region of France.

The larger of Vinci’s two contract wins (Line 18) includes the digging of almost 12km of tunnel, using two tunnel boring machines, and the construction of three new stations. When completed, in 2030, it will connect Orly and Versailles via Massy-Palaiseau and the Saclay plateau.

The company said it expects to employ up to 700 workers during peak periods.

Vinci’s work on Line 15 South will run over more than 16km, between Pont de Sèvres and Les Ardoines, and include the supply and installation of walkways, pipework and drainage pumps.

The works phase of the operation is expected to start in mid2021, with completion expected in 2025.