(August 1, 1999) Atkinson has received a contract from the China Three Gorges Project Development Corporation (CTGPC) to serve in an advisory capacity preliminarily specified for one year for Phase 2 of the project, which includes the construction of spillway, powerhouse, shiplock, and shiplift.

Atkinson will participate in erecting, operating, maintaining, and managing the tower belts (including conveyor lines), cableways, batch plants, and other related equipment. These construction management services include advisory services for scheduling and concrete construction.

When the project is complete (Phase 3, Year 2009), the cost will approximate $30 billion.

The main works quantity to be done in the construction of principal structures and diversion works is as follows: Excavation, 102.59 million m3; Fill, 29.33 million m3; Concrete, 27.15 million m3; Re-bar, 354,300 tons; Metal Works, 280,000 tons; Power (26 units), 18,200 MW.

There are currently over 20,000 workers on site working 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. The CTGPC has scheduled to place 4,000,000 m3 of concrete this year and more in 2000.

International Rivers Network, August 1, 1999