A list of some of the world’s largest construction firms are vying to be part of a public-private partnership (PPP) contract to connect the M80 Ring Road with an upgraded Eastern Freeway in the city of Melbourne.
The whole project is expected to cost $10.6bn, making it the largest road transport project in the history of Victoria.
Three consortiums are vying for a contract worth between US$4.7 and $6bn. They are:
- OneLink CPB Contractors, Samsung C&T Corporation, Egis Road Operations, UGL Engineering, Pacific Partnership and DIF Management Australia
- Spark Salini Impregilo, GS Engineering and Construction, China Construction Oceania, Broadspectrum Australia, Capella Capital, John Laing Investments and Lend Lease Engineering
- ViaNova John Holland Group, Acciona Construction, Lendlease Services, Plenary Group and Acciona Concesiones.
The successful bidder will also work on twin tunnels underneath the Banyule Flats and the Yarra River, as well as a number of interchanges.
Work on the project also includes upgrading the Eastern Freeway and building the Doncaster Busway – 25km of cycling and walking paths and improvements to community facilities.
Jacinta Allan, minister for public transport, said: "The congestion-busting North East Link will take 15,000 trucks off local roads, slash travel times for up to 135,000 motorists and create 10,000 jobs."
Cimic’s CPB Contractors has won a $131m contract to deliver the early works package for the link, including design, development and removal, and relocation or protection work on utility services. Work on this is due to begin in 2020 and be finished by 2021.
Image: Morning tailback on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway, near Hoddle St exit (BlackCab/Creative Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0)
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