July
2003

ENGINEERING CONTRACT FOR LINE 1 OF ALGIERS METRO


The consortium consisting of SYSTRA and SGTE, and which is led by SYSTRA, has been selected by Entreprise du Métro d’Alger (EMA) to Engineer the construction of the Hamma - Hai el Badr section of line 1 of Algiers metro, over a length of 4.1 km.

SYSTRA (which was then called SOFRETU) was already producing urban transportation surveys in Algiers in 1983. These surveys had already investigated the various issues relating to the metro network, and assessed several layout variants. Among other aspects, this had offered a means of identifying:

  • the layout in the corridor along the sea front (line 1),

  • the substantial traffic level, which had led to the selection of a metro system,

  • the constraints, which meant that the metro had to be built underground over its whole length.

    • The overall design had led to the definition of a skeleton diagram for a network consisting of three metro lines in the long term, over a total 56 km, and with 54 stations. A priority section was identified between Oued Koriche and Hai el Badr consisting of:

  • Stage 1: from Tafourah Grande Poste station to Ha El Badr towards the east, i.e. 9 km of tunnel and 10 stations, plus the high voltage station, the central control office and the Bachdjarah maintenance facilities;

  • Stage 2: from Tafourah Grande Poste station to Oued Koriche to the west, i.e. 3.5 km and 6 stations.


    • The works on the section between Tafourah Grande Poste station and Hamma, to the east, were launched by local contractors in the Nineties, as a result of which the shell construction of 4.5 km of tunnel and 5 stations is complete, and certain of the stations are being finished.

    Owing to increasing traffic problems in Algiers, the authorities have decided to give a new impetus to the project by issuing two international calls for tenders, one for Engineering, which was won by SYSTRA, and the other for civil engineering works.

    SYSTRA’s mission is scheduled to last 36 months, including three months of preliminary work, and 33 months of works.
    SYSTRA will make available the experience it has acquired since the Sixties in the creation and development of metro systems in many cities (Mexico City, Santiago, Cairo, Caracas, etc.)