Six groups vie for Thessaloniki metro
The government has received bids from six construction groups for a 425-million-euro project to build a subway line in Thessaloniki. Ellaktor’s Aktor unit, Michaniki and a group comprising Aegek Construction, Impregilo, Seli and Ansaldo STS made offers in the first phase of the tender, the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works Ministry said in a statement yesterday. Other bids came from: Mochlos and Dragados; Terna in partnership with Alpine Bau and FCC Construction; and J&P-Avax, along with Ghella and Alstom Transport. The projects relates to a five-station extension of the Thessaloniki metro, currently being built, to Kalamaria. It will comprise an underground stretch covering over 4.8 kilometers. Additionally, a metro station scheduled for construction in the area of Mikra will also be the site of a car park with some 1,000 spaces. The ministry, which aims to complete the competition by July 2010, will now draw up a short list of candidates for the second phase, which includes financial bids. «The tender is expected to be completed by July 2010, [if there are no legal objections] and, immediately after this, the construction of the first extension to the Thessaloniki metro will commence,» the ministry added.
