Borgarlína project secures contracts for 26 stations and stone

Betri samgöngur has signed contracts for 26 stations and stone materials for the first phase of the Borgarlína project, mbl.is reports. The contracts are worth a total of about 10.25 million euros excluding value-added tax, or nearly 1.5 billion Icelandic krónur.

The procurement was advertised across the European Economic Area. One contract covers the production and delivery of the 26 stations, while the other covers stone for the stations, platforms and adjoining public spaces.

Danish company HMS Industri A/S will produce and deliver the stations. The contract is worth about 1.1 billion krónur, or 73% of the cost estimate. It is a framework agreement that allows for additional purchases in the future.

Another Danish company, Zurface A/S, will produce and deliver granite and basalt stones. The materials will be used for surface finishes, kerbs, ramps and platforms at the Borgarlína stations, as well as in nearby public spaces. The contract is worth about 376 million krónur, 82% of the cost estimate.

The first phase of Borgarlína will run between Ártúnshöfði in Reykjavík and Hamraborg in Kópavogur, covering about 15 kilometres.

Stations will be largely similar

Atli Björn Levy, head of the Borgarlína project office, described the contracts as an important step. The purchases cover all the street fixtures for the stations in the first and largest phase of the project, he said.

The stations will generally have a similar appearance, although there will be several types. A longer station is planned at the National Arena and on Suðurlandsbraut to accommodate large numbers of passengers, Atli said.

He said he understood that some people were curious about importing construction materials. The project required the best materials available, including durable kerbstones where the vehicles will pull up closely to the stations.

“They need to have good durability, so we are considering the life-cycle cost,” Atli said.

He added that the aim was always to use Icelandic materials where possible, and that the imported materials represented a very small proportion of the total.

The first station will be installed on Nauthólsvegur by HR. The project is awaiting the final permits before construction can begin.

Danish workers will assist with installing the first station and show Icelandic contractors how to assemble the stations. The remaining stations will be installed by Icelandic companies.