Downer NZ Limited has secured an $115M contract for the construction of Longswamp section of the Waikato Expressway in New Zealand.The road project represents the final of seven sections of the 102km Waikato Expressway.Work on the 5.9km section will commence in October 2016 and will see the existing SH1 widened to four lanes between Hampton Downs and Rangiriri. In addition, a new local road bridge will be constructed over the four-lane Expressway.New Zealand’s transport minister Simon Bridges said: “This means all sections of the Waikato Expressway will be under construction by the end of 2016. The Longswamp section is the final piece of this transformational project. “Once finished the Waikato Expressway will be a game changer for this country. It will create jobs, boost industry and improve safety for all motorists travelling on this section of State Highway 1.“It will reduce congestion and unlock economic potential by providing stronger links between the business and agricultural centres of Auckland and the Waikato, as well as the Bay of Plenty.”The project is anticipated to be complete in 2018.
John Holland has been awarded a $324M early works package for Melbourne Metro in Victoria, Australia.John Holland will be responsible for excavating shafts in the centre of Melbourne as part of the preparation works for the tunnel and five new underground stations.The contract will also include the excavation of open shafts adjacent to Swanston Street to enable the underground construction of two new city stations built as part of the $10.9bn project.Excavation of the CBD North Station will include two shafts at Franklin and A’Beckett Street, which will be covered by acoustic sheds to minimise noise for neighbouring residents and offices.According to John Holland, the construction of CBD South will include the partial demolition of the car park underneath City Square.Other works in the package include the relocation and protection of up to 100 utilities, including gas, power and telecommunications services, and the 120-year-old brick main sewer line under the Domain interchange.Works are expected to commence within weeks, with work on the stations’ shafts to begin in 2017, after the completion of the Environment Effects Statement (EES) that is currently underway and the project’s formal planning approval.
The state government of New South Wales is set to provide $6.2bn for the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project and $5.8bn for Sydney Metro Northwest.The announcement was made as the tunnels for Sydney Metro Northwest were handed over within budget and 10 months ahead of the schedule.The 2016-17 funding for Sydney Metro Northwest will be used for laying tracks and building eight new metro stations, for the procurement of Sydney’s new fully-automated metro trains and ongoing construction of the 4km skytrain.Work on the Sydney Metro Northwest, expected to open in the first half of 2019, has commenced with the laying of tracks. The 2016-17 funding for Sydney Metro City & Southwest will be used for the tender process for twin tunnels from Chatswood to Sydenham and early construction work in 2017, including building demolitions, planning and design work.The first tunnel boring machine will be in the ground before the end of 2018, with services in the Sydney Metro City & Southwest expected to start in 2024.
Ground has been broken on the $1.12bn NorthLink WA project to provide a non-stop transport between Morley and Muchea in Western Australia.The project will transform Tonkin Highway into a six-lane freeway between Guildford Road and Reid Highway, with new interchanges at Collier Road and Morley Drive, and a flyover at Benara Road.Other flyovers will be constructed at Beechboro Road North and Marshall Road, with interchanges at Hepburn Avenue, Gnangara Road and The Promenade at Ellenbrook. The first section of the project, which is being delivered by John Holland, includes the construction of the Collier Road and Morley Drive interchanges and the Benara Road flyover.Great Northern Connect, a joint venture between BGC Contracting and Laing O'Rourke Australia Construction, has been selected as the preferred proponent for the next section between Reid Highway and Ellenbrook. The JV will oversee the design and construction of nearly 20km of highway, four interchanges, 14 road bridges and three footbridges. Construction work is expected to commence in early 2017.The overall project will create about 1,000 direct jobs.
Auckland Transport has broken ground on the $2.5bn City Rail Link (CRL) project in New Zealand. The project includes the construction of 3.4km twin tunnels up to 42m below the city streets, using a 7.5m diameter tunnel boring machine.The rail link will also involve two new underground stations at Aotea and Karangahape Road and a re-developed Mount Eden Station.Auckland Transport chairman Dr Lester Levy said: “It will change the look and feel of Auckland setting the city up for future growth. Making public transport a better travel choice will ease pressure on roads for those who need to use them.”Work on the project is expected to last for five and a half years. Upon completion, the project would almost double the number of people on the trains to 30,000 an hour at peak times.
Lendlease Group has been selected as the preferred contractor to design and build the $985M Northern Connector road project in Adelaide, South Australia.The project will include the construction of a new motorway with three lanes in each direction. The 15.5km road is set to link the Northern Expressway with the South Road Superway and the Port River Expressway.It will also involve four interchanges and a 16km path for cyclists and pedestrians. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said: “The Northern Connector will provide enormous productivity benefits for freight travelling between Adelaide and the northern, western and eastern parts of South Australia, as well as to and from other states.“The six-lane motorway is expected to significantly improve freight access to Port Adelaide and the industrial areas of Adelaide’s north and north-west, bypassing six sets of traffic lights.“It will also deliver enormous benefits for the 52,000 vehicles a day expected to use it when completed.”Major works are anticipated to commence in the third quarter of 2016 and the project is scheduled to be complete in December 2019. The project will create about 480 jobs a year during construction.
Downer NZ has been awarded an $86M network outcomes contract (NOC) by the NZ Transport Agency to manage the Coastal Otago State Highway network in New Zealand.The scope of the contract includes the regular maintenance and operation of the 773km highway network, as well as the signage and markings, resurfacing, pavement rehabilitation, winter maintenance and incident response.Ian Duncan, NZ Transport Agency’s southern business unit manager, said: “The new $86 million contract starts this winter, from 1 July, and is part of a national Transport Agency initiative to improve the efficiency of roading maintenance through the engagement of a single supplier for each highway network on a performance-based contract.“Contract tenure will be based upon Downer achieving a number of monthly and annual performance measures which evaluate the efficiency, responsiveness and quality of their work.”This new contract model is set to deliver better operational outcomes and more efficient road maintenance.
The state government of Queensland has announced the environmental approval for the AUD347M ($251.1M) Sunshine Coast Airport runway expansion in Australia.The expansion project will include a new 2,450m by 45m wide east-west runway, capable of servicing aircraft such as the Airbus A330, Boeing 787 and Boeing 777.It will also include proposed changes to airspace and flight paths, two end taxiway loops, navigational aids and expansion of the existing apron, an air traffic control tower and aircraft rescue and fire-fighting services station.Queensland minister for state development and natural resources and mines Anthony Lynham said: “This project opens up the region to more national and international destinations such as Singapore and Perth and has the potential to bring almost half a million more visitors a year to the coast by 2040.“Most importantly, this will generate 1,500 more ongoing jobs by 2040, more than 80 construction jobs and an estimated $140 million-plus boost to regional economic activity during construction.“That represents business opportunities for local construction, manufacturing and professional services companies in the region.”
A joint venture between Jacobs Engineering and Aurecon has secured a contract to carry out the engineering design of the AUD5bn ($3,6bn) WestConnex New M5 Project in Australia.The New M5 motorway, the largest section of the WestConnex project, will link to the upgraded King Georges Road Interchange on the existing M5 East Motorway at Beverly Hills and run via twin tunnels to St Peters.The project, which is being delivered by the CPB Contractors-Dragados-Samsung joint venture, is set to double the M5 East corridor’s capacity, improving travel times and reliability for the 100,000 motorists that use the route daily.Three-dimensional design and building information management (BIM) systems are being implemented to design and document elements of the project in order to assist with the coordination and integration of design with other parties.Jacobs’ senior vice president of buildings and infrastructure Patrick Hill said: “We are very proud to be contributing to such a globally significant project, one that is set to have a positive impact on Sydney’s road network for many years to come.”
CIMIC Group subsidiaries Pacific Partnerships and CPB Contractors have been awarded the Canberra light rail stage one project by the Australian Capital Territory Government. The group is part of the Canberra Metro Consortium responsible for the project, and the scope of the work comprises the sponsorship, design, construction, operations, maintenance and equity investment of the Canberra metro.Stage one of the development includes the design and construction of a 12km light rail route from Gungahlin to the city with 13 stops, a depot, and road, signalling and preparatory works. It also involves the on-going operation and maintenance of the light rail system. The project will generate profits to CIMIC of approximately $300M over the design and construction period and $300M over the 20-year concession.CPB Contractors managing director Román Garrido said: “Stage one of Capital Metro will provide the backbone of an accessible and user-friendly public transport system and a new industry for Canberra.“The key to this project’s sustainable and successful delivery is the planned participation of local business. Creating local jobs and enhancing workforce capabilities will benefit future light rail stages and other regional infrastructure projects.”Construction work is expected to be complete in late 2018 and the metro is slated to be operational in early 2019.Canberra Metro comprises the CIMIC Group’s Pacific Partnerships and CPB Contractors, John Holland, Mitsubishi Corporation, Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments, DB Engineering & Consulting, CAF and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Ltd (MUFG).
CIMIC Group’s construction company CPB Contractors has won a contract from GoldLinQ Pty Ltd to design and build the $200m Stage 2 of the Gold Coast light rail project in Australia.Under the contract, CPB Contractors will construct a 7.3km northern extension of the Gold Coast light rail from Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale, to connect Stage 1 with the main Brisbane to Gold Coast rail line.CIMIC Group’s executive chairman and CEO Marcelino Fernández Verdes said: “The Queensland government’s commitment to delivering state‐of‐the‐art public transport has provided us with the opportunity to design and construct this significant light rail infrastructure.“Our capability and major project experience in the rail sector provide the certainty of delivery that is necessary for the expansion of the transport network in one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.”CPB Contractors’ managing director Román Garrido said: “We continue to work with GoldLinQ to achieve innovative design and cost‐effective construction solutions for this project, to the benefit of the people of Queensland.“In addition, our team will engage with local workers and businesses to develop increased job and work opportunities as the project progresses.”Construction work on the project is set to start in April 2016 and will be complete in late 2017.
A joint venture between Italian infrastructure group Salini Impregilo and Australia's NRW Pty Ltd. has secured a contract worth AUD1.176bn ($898m) from the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia to design, build and maintain the Forrestfield-Airport Link in Perth, Australia.The underground passenger rail line project will connect the eastern suburbs of the city with an existing suburban rail network as well as the airport. It will measure 8.5km in length, of which 8km will be underground.The JV will bore twin tunnels for the entire length of the line and build three stations. Parking spaces and new and expanded bus feeder services will also be built. The rail line will be tunnelled underground from a junction near Bayswater Station, under the Swan River and the airport.Western Australia’s premier Colin Barnett said: "This is a huge milestone on the path to delivering this project, which will change the face of Perth's eastern corridor and give people direct access to the airport by public transport."Early work worth AUD370m ($281m) comprising geotechnical work, contract management and land purchases is already underway. Work at the site is scheduled to begin shortly, and the line is expected to open in 2020.
The government of New Zealand is set to invest NZD278m ($193.7m) to upgrade the State Highway 2. The project will take place between Pokeno and the SH25 intersection and will include the widening of 32km of the original road into three lanes, with two of them reserved for traffic heading west towards Auckland.In addition to the extra lane, a new roundabout will be built and four interchanges separating state highway and local traffic will be constructed.It will also be future-proofed, allowing the road to become four lanes if required.Work is set to start on the design, consents and property purchase for a long-term overhaul of the road that will be carried out in five stages over several years.New Zealand transport minister Simon Bridges said: “These upgrades will help ease congestion and improve journey predictability, making a huge difference for the local community, the freight industry and for people travelling north after a weekend on the Coromandel.”Construction work is anticipated to start in 2017/18.
An alliance between Lendlease, CPB Contractors, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, Aurecon and Metro Trains Melbourne has secured a contract for the $1.6bn Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project in Australia. The project will see the removal of nine dangerous level crossings, the construction of five new stations and the upgrade of signalling and power. It will also transform lengthy rail and rocks into new parks, paths and open space.Along with the 65 new high-capacity metro trains, the project will create space for 11,000 extra passengers to catch the train on Melbourne's busiest rail line.Victoria’s treasurer Tim Pallas said: "The project to eliminate these congested death traps is about to begin, and 2,000 jobs are about to be created."This project will deliver more room, on more trains to carry more people on Melbourne's busiest rail line. It's needed now, and we're not going to waste a day - we're going to get it done."
CPB Contractors has been appointed as the preferred contractor to design and build the second stage of the Gold Coast Light Rail project in Queensland, Australia.Estimated to cost $420m, the project will involve a 7.3km extension that will connect the existing light rail system at Gold Coast University Hospital station to heavy rail at the Helensvale station.Majority ($270m) of the funding for the project will be provided by the Queensland Government, with $95m to be provided by the Australian government and $55m from the City of Gold Coast Council. Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said: “The Palaszczuk Government is satisfied CPB Contractors is experienced, well-qualified and has the expertise to manage the design and construction of the second stage of the Gold Coast Light Rail system and deliver it in time for the 2018 Games.“Now we’ve announced the preferred contractors, early works on the light rail extension will able to start next month.“Once it is built, Stage Two will have the potential to carry 3,000 passengers per hour which will be critical to support the transport plan for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.”
New South Wales (NSW) minister for transport and infrastructure Andrew Constance has announced plans for a new rail nerve centre at Green Square, Sydney.
The Canberra Metro consortium has been selected to deliver the first stage of the Capital Metro light rail project in Australia.
CPB Contractors, the construction company of CIMIC Group, has won a highway contract from Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads.
A joint venture (JV) of Salini Impregilo and NRW has been chosen as the preferred respondent to design, build and maintain the $2bn Forrestfield-Airport Link in Perth, Australia.