The Bielsa-Aragnouet Tunnel Consortium has put out to bid the contract for the upkeep, maintenance, and operation of the infrastructure and its access roads for the 2015–2017 period, for a total of 1,931,510 euros.
The Consortium's director, Andrés Olloqui, explains in a statement that this contract covers the management of routine maintenance for both the tunnel and the access roads on the French and Spanish sides, as well as the maintenance of the facilities, winter road maintenance, and a first-response team.
Olloqui also takes stock of the two-way traffic system for light vehicles, which began in July. Through last December, 44% of the time, cars have been traveling in both directions. In the first few months, according to a statement from the Aragonese government, the figures were lower, but in December, two-way traffic reached 71 % of the time—a figure the Consortium’s director says they hope to improve this year with some advancements to the management system.
The contract currently being put out to bid includes services as well as preventive and corrective maintenance for infrastructure, electrical, electronic, and electromechanical systems, and surveillance, security, and control systems.
It also includes the operational services it will provide, as well as the reports and work necessary to bring the facilities into compliance, if necessary, with current Spanish and French regulations, and with any decisions regarding changes to schedules and operating procedures that are made by the Consortium and approved by the competent administrative bodies.
8,000 hours open per year
The successful bidder must carry out the necessary conservation, maintenance, and operation activities to keep the tunnel open under optimal safety conditions during the dates and hours specified by the Consortium, for a minimum of 8,000 hours per year.
This project includes the upkeep and maintenance of all safety facilities and equipment related to avalanche management and the real-time user information system, as well as the general facilities of the Maintenance Center and adjacent buildings on both slopes.
The tunnel is monitored from three stations: the main control center, located at the Spanish entrance; the secondary control center, on the French side; and the COEX, which is in Spain, 4 kilometers from the entrance to the A138.
Companies may submit their applications to the Department of Highways by March 9.
