Webuild SpA, an Italian industrial group specializing in construction and civil engineering services has reportedly won a US$ 4.7 billion deal at the ongoing Neom City Project in Saudi Arabia. As per the contract, the Italian group will construct a total of three dams that will form a freshwater lake for the Trojena ski resort.
The main dam according to the group will be made up of roller-compacted concrete (RCC). It will be 145 meters high and 475 meters long with the capacity to hold a volume of about 2.7 million cubic meters of water. The second dam on the other hand will also be in RCC while the third one, with a volume of 4.3 million cubic meters will be in rock.
The artificial freshwater lake formed will cover an area of 1.5 square kilometres, making it the largest architecturally-crafted body of water in Saudi Arabia. It will have an island reserved for botanical dives and walks, and it will be a central feature of Trojena’s LAVA-designed master plan.
Sitting at the very heart of the development, the artificial freshwater lake will be key to Trojena’s ambition. The Trojena’s ambition is to sustain and regenerate the area’s vibrant natural environment, offer clean serene outdoor mountain living, and become a global hub for water sports and entertainment.
Webuild to carry out a series of innovative works in addition to the construction of the man-made dams
In addition to the construction of the artificial dams, Webuild will also carry out a series of innovative works under the contract that places the Group among the corporations leading the development of the futuristic NEOM region.
These works include the creation of a futuristic Bow. The latter is an architectural structure that will extend the surface of the lake beyond the front of the main dam. The bow will reportedly be shaped like the prow of a ship suspended over the valley. It will house a luxury hotel, as well as a residential area and a large central atrium comprising accommodation and hospitality facilities.
Speaking on the contract, Pietro Salini, Webuild CEO that they were delighted and truly proud to be awarded this significant project in NEOM. According to Salini, the 2.8 kilometer-long, man-made, freshwater lake will be a key asset in the Trojena masterplan and also an international engineering and construction marvel.
Philip Gullett, Executive Director – Region Head at Trojena, on the other hand, said that the appointment of Webuild S.P.A was a significant milestone in the implementation of the Trojena project.
“Thus far, we have already completed the excavation of approximately three million cubic meters at the lake site and we continue to excavate around 90,000 cubic meters of rock per week. We are also implementing a sustainable approach in the project by collecting all the rock excavated and reusing it for the lakebed lining and dam construction. This is an important stage of the project’s overall development and we are excited to see works get underway,” explained Gullett.
Noteworthy, Webuild is already constructing a total of 57 kilometres of the Connector high-speed railway line between ‘Oxagon’ and ‘The Line’ at Neom.
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