PRESS NOTE

Breakthrough Ceremony for Line 3 of Riyadh's Metro

November 9, 2015 - Nearly 50 years of constant presence and dozens of important works realised: with these credentials, the Salini Impregilo Group, represented by its CEO, Mr. Pietro Salini, will be present in Riyadh during these days, supporting the Italian government's mission, led by its Prime Minister, Mr. Matteo Renzi.

During the meetings with the authorities of Saudi Arabia, the infrastructure topic is bound to end up in the spotlight, because the country’s economy is focusing more and more on the non-oil sector and on the construction of major roads and integration routes between the country's main areas: airports, roads, subways and railway networks.

The driving force for infrastructure investment has always seen a significant Italian presence. Salini Impregilo, since 1966 with its first hydraulic works in the Makkah Jeddah and Riyadh areas, and later with its hospital building works, is now currently constructing Line 3 of Riyadh's Metro, one of the six lines of the Riyadh Metro Project, which is being built for Arriyadh Development Authority, the executive arm of The High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh the longest line of this gigantic project for the new underground network of Saudi Arabia's capital.

With its 41 km, Line 3 is the longest of the Metro network and runs from the west (near the Jeddah Expressway), ending in the east (near the National Guard Camp of Khashm El Aam), for a total of 22 built stations, which are mainly elevated and underground. The trains that will run on it will have during the first phase a maximum length of 36.7 m (2 carriages), a capacity of 262 passengers and a maximum speed of 80 km/h. The stations are dimensioned to be able to contain trains with 4 carriages during the second phase.

The work, awarded for a value of approximately $6 billion to an international consortium led by Salini Impregilo, with the presence of Ansaldo STS, plays a key role for the city's practicability, considering that its population is expected to increase from its current 5.7 million inhabitants to 8.3 million by 2030.

On the 30th June, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, governor of Riyadh and President of the High Commission for the Development of Riyadh, Line 3 has recorded an important milestone with the start of the TBM excavation (the TBM was named Jazlah). The TBM measures 10 metres in diameter and weighs approximately 700 tons. The tunnel that Jazlah is digging measures 5.8 km in length, and is located under Riyadh's town centre, crossing Riyadh's main train station.

Today, 9 November 2015, the TBM entered the second underground station (3F1) after scoring, since its start-off, an excavation tract measuring approximately 1200 m, reaching outstanding peaks with regard to excavation of 27 m/day.

As ambassadors of Italy's "genius", Salini Impregilo built in 2002 the Riyadh Kingdom Centre, a symbol of the country and of its economic development. The Centre consists of a 30-storey central tower, topped by a 120 m crescent-shaped steel structure, and two adjoining side buildings. The 300 m high tower is the tallest construction of its type in the Middle East and in Europe. The building, which houses one of the largest and most luxurious malls of the Arabian Peninsula, a Four Seasons hotel and the famous Sky Bridge, 65 metres in length and suspended above the building, won the prestigious Emporis Skyscraper Award for being the "World's best designed skyscraper".