The jury highlighted the size and diversity of the FAST excavation team, made up of 9,500 people from 42 countries and who speak 22 different languages. Tomás Arranz and Pepe Raso from FCC, representing FAST, collected the award The Riyadh Metro is the largest public infrastructure project in the world of its kind, with six lines, 85 stations and a total length of 176 kilometres currently under construction. The FAST Consortium, consisting of FCC (Spain), Samsung C&T (Korea), Alstom (France), Strukton (Netherlands) and Freyssinet (Saudi Arabia), is responsible for Lot 3 (Yellow, Green and Purple lines). It was the first of the three consortiums working on the Riyadh Metro to begin and to complete the excavation work, in which maximum excavation speeds of 45 metres per day were achieved. Jaime Freyre, Director of Europe and Middle East, said: “This industry recognition as Best Global Tunnelling Team of the Year only goes to show the effective and efficient way in which FAST Consortium members, led by FCC, work in pursuit of the same strategy.

What we have achieved to date is testimony of the determination of the 9,500 people working on Lot 3, as well as of the involvement of the Riyadh Development Authority (ADA) and of the dialogue with the local community”. Mark Hansford, chief editor of the New Civil Engineer journal, said: “What we see in this project is that it raises the bar on how to achieve its goals, advancing with technology, innovation and cultural change to go further, faster and with a higher level of health & safety. That is why it is so positive that we can recognise it as the best in the New Civil Engineer Tunnelling Awards. Congratulations to all the winners”. The following link provides access to the full list of winners at the 2016 New Civil Engineer Tunnelling Awards: https://tunnellingawards.newcivilengineer.com/2016-winners