Exclusive: Four firms in race for £130m tunnel refurbishment job at Heathrow

Heathrow T5 pod transport

Laing O’Rourke, Mace, Balfour Beatty and Costain are vying for a £130m tunnel refurbishment job at Heathrow, Building can reveal.

The contract will see the winning bidder refit the main tunnel and cargo tunnel which provide access to the terminal area of the airport.

The 630m twin bore main tunnel was built in the 1950s and the 830m long cargo tunnel was built in the 1960s.

The tunnels require replacement of the ventilation systems, updated fire protection measures, new lighting systems, electrical systems; phone and CCTV systems; radio broadcast equipment; speed cameras; drainage and emergency signage and tunnel closure systems.

The winning bidder will have to take responsibility for maintaining current systems in the tunnels during the project and will need to keep the tunnels in operation while the work is going on.

The work is slated to take just over three years to complete.

All parties declined to comment.