Around 130 people from Norway and abroad attended the information meeting about the largest individual contract within transport and communications in the history of Norway, with an investment value of NOK 10 billion (USD 1.11 billion) - Rv 555 Sotra Connection. The information meeting showed that both the Norwegian and the international markets are hungry for this contract.

Signed up for the meeting were representatives of companies from Norway, India, Japan, Sweden, Italy, China, Australia, Spain and more.

Project Manager Arve Tjønn Rinde of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA)  said: “We are very pleased to see that the project attracts interest both from the Norwegian industry and from international parties. What remains to be seen is how many will submit an application for qualification. Today’s meeting shows that the PPP model is a contract type that the market finds appealing.”

The deadline for qualification applications expires on 28 February. A maximum of three qualified contractors will be invited to take part in further negotiations. The selection of these three parties will be made in April. The first deadline for tenders is 18 December 2020. The contract will finally be awarded to the tenderer with the best price-quality ratio (estimated weighting 80/20). It is assumed that the contract will be signed in the spring of 2021. Construction time is estimated to be 5 + 2 years.

The Sotra Connection is often associated with the new bridge to be built. But the project actually includes more tunnel than bridge. The main elements in the project are:

•  9 km 4-lane road
• 11 km road tunnels
• 14 km pedestrian and cycle path
• 19 short underpass tunnels and/or culverts, 22 bridges, 23 tunnel portals
• 1000 m suspension bridge (600 m bridge span)

In addition the project involves:

• realignment of power lines
• new main water pipe
• facilities for public transport and parking
• noise barriers

The project is very challenging and demands a lot from tenderers in terms of financial capacity, experience with technically demanding structures and experience from similar projects. Also, the construction of the new road will take place near and along the existing road with an AADT of approximately 30 000 and major congestion issues. The tender documentation emphasises the importance of minimal impact of construction work on today’s road.