Vinci has been named for Contract C340, Victoria Dock portal, a job worth £50m. It will start work in autumn 2012.
Vinci was selected ahead of shortlisted contenders Balfour Beatty, Costain, Morgan Sindall and Bam/Nuttall/Kier JV.
Victoria Dock portal is one of five new tunnel portals to be constructed as part of Crossrail. The others are at Royal Oak, Pudding Mill Lane, North Woolwich and Plumstead.
Costain Skanska JV already has the Royal Oak portal contract, Morgan Sindall has Pudding Mill Lane portal. North Woolwich and Plumstead portals are being undertaken by a Hochteif/Murphy JV as part of the C310 Thames Tunnel contract.
The western and eastern running tunnels will have tunnel portals at Royal Oak, Pudding Mill Lane and Victoria Dock. The Thames Tunnel between North Woolwich and Plumstead will have tunnel portals constructed at either end.
Construction of the first tunnel portal got underway at Royal Oak in January 2010 and was completed ahead of schedule in September 2011. The first Crossrail tunnel boring machine will set out on its journey from Royal Oak towards Farringdon later this month.
Construction of the portal at Plumstead is well underway and mobilisation for the North Woolwich portal will begin in May following completion of utility diversion works.
Enabling works for Pudding Mill Lane Portal were completed at the end of 2011. Construction for Pudding Mill Lane Portal, the new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Crossrail bridges and the viaduct for the new DLR station are now underway.
Crossrail programme director Andy Mitchell said: “Crossrail has now awarded the last remaining tunnel portal contract. Construction of Royal Oak Portal was completed ahead of schedule last year. Main construction of the portals at Pudding Mill Lane and Plumstead are now underway. Construction of the North Woolwich portal will begin in May 2012 with Victoria Dock portal commencing in autumn 2012.”
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