Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs and NSW Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay today announced that four expressions of interest were received from joint ventures from around the world in a bid to secure a contract for WestConnex M4 East.
Submissions were received from:
- Thiess Samsung John Holland joint venture
- Lend Lease Bouygues joint venture
- Future Connect (Acciona Obayashi McConnell Dowell Ghella joint venture)
- Salini Impregilo joint venture
Briggs said the overwhelming response from industry to get involved in the State's largest road infrastructure project will help stimulate competition, drive down project costs and create new local employment and business opportunities.
"This multi-billion project will unlock the economic capacity of Sydney's transport infrastructure and be a catalyst for urban renewal along Parramatta Road.
"Work will now start on assessing the submissions and next month a request for tender will be issued to shortlisted joint ventures.
"We are looking to industry for new ideas and innovative solutions to bust congestion, boost productivity and create thousands of new jobs," Briggs said.
NSW Minister for Roads Duncan Gay said this project will slash travel times and significantly improve the safety performance of Sydney's transport network with fewer trucks on local roads.
"The M4 East will adjoin the M4 Widening at Homebush and provide a tunnel extension along the Parramatta Road corridor.
"It is a huge stamp of approval that the best companies from Australia and the best companies from around the world have joined together to bid for a Sydney roads project.
"With the M4 Widening contract to be awarded later this year, and procurement now well under way for the M4 East, WestConnex is on track to start delivering world class infrastructure to Sydney.
"The M4 Widening environmental impact statement (EIS) is almost complete and is expected to be displayed for community comment from next month.
"Pending planning approval, work will start on the M4 Widening early next year and then the following year for the M4 East.
"The preferred tenderer for M4 East will also be selected in mid-2015, before the display of the EIS. The preferred concept design and EIS will be displayed for community consultation shortly after," Gay said.
WestConnex is expected to save 40 minutes on a typical travel journey between Parramatta and Sydney Airport by bypassing up to 52 sets of traffic lights, helping the city cope with an expected population increase of 1.3 million over the next 20 years.
The Australian government is providing $1.5 billion towards WestConnex plus an additional concessional loan of up to $2 billion to accelerate construction of Stage Two by up to 18 months. The NSW government is investing $1.8 billion in WestConnex.
Once all three stages are completed in 2023, a typical journey between Parramatta and Sydney Airport is expected to be 40 minutes faster and bypass up to 52 sets of traffic lights, which will help the city cope with the expected population increase of 1.3 million over the next 20 years.
