Chinese construction giant China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. has won its second major tunneling project in Israel, teaming with an Israeli firm on a $170-million design-build rail-line tunnel contract. The team beat several other joint ventures of overseas firms and Israeli partners.
CCECC and Danya Cebus Ltd., Tel Aviv, are digging two parallel, 4.85-kilometer-long tunnels underneath Mount Gilon for the 23-km line that will connect the cities of Carmiel and Acre in northern Israel. The estimated $800-million project is set for completion by the end of 2014, with operation expected a year later. The project includes two new train stations, construction of bridges over two streams and elevation of an existing highway for 1.2 km over the planned train tracks.