COWI bags Oslo metro extension contract

A joint venture of consultants COWI and Multiconsult has won the contract to design the Fornebu Line, an 8.5km long extension of the Oslo metro that will link the Fornebu peninsula to the Norwegian capital. 

The metro extension, at 4.5 billion Norweigan Krone (£450m) is claimed to be Oslo's largest transport project in over 20 years. 

COWI CEO Lars-Peter Søbye, said: "We are proud to be designing this exciting and hugely important project. As well as providing tunnel engineering expertise, we will also be consulting on issues related to water and the environment. This underlines that we can deliver multiple services on large and complex infrastructure projects." 

The new metro line will run underground from Oslo’s transport hub, Majorstuen, west to Fornebu – a peninsula that was formerly the site of Oslo’s international airport and has since been redeveloped into a mixed residential and business district. 

The Norwegian government's latest National Transport Plan says construction of the new line will begin in 2021 and complete in 2025. The project includes six new stations, the metro tunnel and the design of an underground maintenance centre in Fornebu. 

COWI senior market director, Knud Erik Christensen, said: "This project win emphasises our position as a leading international consultancy on metro projects. We have the experience and the talented engineers, which is being recognised in the market. The project is large and challenging and it will make a real difference to mobility in Oslo and contribute to a substantial development of the urban area."

Copenhagen based COWI is aiming to double the size of its international arm by 2020. The company recently entered the UK market through the acquisitions of tunnel specialist Donaldson Associates and bridge specialists Flint & Neill.