Works on the third phase of Cairo Metro Line 3 are expected to commence in March, according to a source familiar with the project.

“Concrete works will start in March. Tunneling work should start toward the end of 2017,” the source tells MEED.

The $1.2bn contract for the civil engineering work of the metro line was awarded in April 2016 to a consortium led by French firm Vinci Construction Grand Projects and the local subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, and which includes local contracting firms Orascom Construction and Arab Contracting.

The project, which includes 17.7 kilometres of new line and 15 stations, is to be executed within 67 months.

Eight of the 15 stations are to be built underground, five elevated and two at-grade. The contract will require the construction of a tunnel under the Nile River.

The tunnel boring machines (TBM) to be used in the tunnelling works are not expected to be shipped into the project site until late 2017 or early 2018, MEED has been told.

The project is expected to generate approximately 5,000 jobs and offer French small and medium enterprises (SMEs) opportunities as suppliers and subcontractors, according to Vinci.

Phase three of the third metro line will extend from Attaba to Kitkat, via Rod el-Farag and on to Cairo University. It will be built in three parts, with the entire phase to be completed by 2018. The total length of the line will be 17.7km and will include 15 stations. The cost of this phase is estimated at $1.8bn.

A consortium, led by Orascom Construction and including France’s Alstom, the UK’s Colas Rail and the local Arab Contractors, won the electromechanical and systems contract for this phase of the metro. The signalling and telecoms system and infrastructure is being provided by Alstom. The total value of the two signalling and telecoms deals is $204m. Orascom’s part of the contract is worth about $113m.