MT Højgaard Holding's business unit, MT Højgaard Danmark, in collaboration with France-based Eiffage Group, has been selected to undertake the construction of the Valby cloudburst tunnel in Denmark.

A mutually led joint venture between MT Højgaard Danmark and Eiffage will execute this project. 

HOFOR and local utility company Frederiksberg Forsyning are the developers for the project.

The contract is valued at approximately Dkr490m ($71.48m), with MT Højgaard Danmark's share slightly exceeding half of the amount.  

This infrastructure project is aimed at preventing floods caused by cloudbursts and rain in Valby and parts of Frederiksberg. 

The tunnel is expected to bolster the existing sewage network in the area, capturing overflow water during extreme weather conditions until it can be redirected to the sewage treatment plant.  

In the event of severe rain, the water can be reportedly discharged directly into the Kalveboderne via outlets in Gåsebæksrenden and Enghave Kanal, facilitated by a pumping station. 

Designed to withstand ‘100-year rain events,’ the underground tunnel will span approximately 2,380m and feature a drilled construction with an internal diameter of 3.4m.  

MT Højgaard Danmark CEO Carsten Lund said: “An assignment of this scope is very demanding for the contractor, and MT Højgaard Danmark and our partner Eiffage Infra-Spezialtiefbau have both the experience and competencies from comparable projects completed over the years. We really look forward to completing this task as well.” 

Construction is scheduled to commence this year, which will include the development of four construction sites and shafts.  

The project is expected to be completed and handed over to local utility companies by 2028.