An AECOM and Jacobs joint venture has been appointed programme delivery partner for the construction phase of Dublin's MetroLink, in a contract worth up to €550 million. The joint venture will manage the construction, integration and commissioning of the 19km underground metro line, Ireland's first fully segregated metro railway.

Awarded following a competitive procurement process, the contract runs for 144 months, or 12 years, including options and renewals. The joint venture will provide integrated programme management, governance and risk management, coordinating interfaces across the multiple engineering contracts TII procures for the scheme.

MetroLink will run 19km from Swords to Charlemont, serving 16 stations and offering a 25-minute journey time from north Dublin to the city centre. Once operational, the line is designed to carry up to 53 million passengers a year, with interchanges connecting Irish Rail, DART, Luas and Bus services.

Richard Sanderson, Jacobs Executive Vice President and General Manager Europe, said: "MetroLink represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how people move throughout Dublin and support the region's future growth." Sanderson added: "Jacobs brings experience from some of the world's largest and most complex transportation programs, where successfully integrating multiple contracts, disciplines and stakeholders is critical. We will bring that experience to MetroLink, working alongside Transport Infrastructure Ireland to manage complexity and risk, coordinate interfaces across the program and create lasting benefits for passengers, communities and the Irish economy."

Richard Whitehead, AECOM's chief executive in Europe and India, said the appointment reflects the firm's experience delivering complex, multi-billion-dollar programmes worldwide. Whitehead said: "MetroLink will play a significant role in supporting Ireland's growth, transforming connectivity, driving economic development and expanding access to opportunities for communities across Dublin and the wider region."

The structural driver is the scale and complexity of coordinating construction, integration and commissioning across multiple contracts on Ireland's largest current infrastructure investment. Ramboll and Nicholas O'Dwyer will support the joint venture as affiliate partners on the programme.

For the sector, the appointment adds to Jacobs' and AECOM's international transportation programme delivery portfolios, positioning the joint venture to manage one of Europe's largest current metro construction programmes as MetroLink moves from planning into delivery.

Source: independent.ie / newcivilengineer.com