THE Brazilian state of Ceará has awarded Spanish company Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure and Brazilian construction company Ferrera Guedes a contract worth Reais 1.47bn ($US 382m) to build Phase 1 of the Eastern Line of the Fortaleza Metro over four years.

The project involves the construction of the line from Tirol-Moura Brazil to Papicú beyond which the depot will be located, and includes 7.3km of tunnelling.

Phase one includes underground stations at Central Chico da Silva, Colegio Militar, Nunes Valente and Papicú, and one ground-level station at Tirol-Moura Brazil.

Strengthening work in the tunnels will also be carried out in preparation for the construction of Catedral and Luiza Távora stations in later phases.