Image: Pascal.
The Queensland government has selected Lend Lease Engineering Pty Ltd to design and construct the Gateway Upgrade North project.
Lend Lease Engineering Pty Ltd, as part of the Lend Lease Group (ASX: LLC) emerged as the successful tenderer, following the initial announcement of preferred tenderers in November 2014.
The company was among others including Leighton Contractors and NorthLink Joint Venture.
The procurement process has been managed by urban toll road network company Transurban (ASX: TCL), but according to Transurban Queensland, the upgraded section of the motorway will not be tolled.
The project is valued at $1.162 billion, and has received significant investment from the federal government including $232.42 million as well as $929.58 million from the Queensland government.
The government hopes that upgrade to one of Queensland’s most vital pieces of infrastructure will solve its prevalent congestion problems by widening an 11 kilometre section of the motorway from four to six lanes between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge.
It will also include an upgrade of the Nudgee Road interchange, and widening the Deagon Deviation to two lanes in each direction.
The motorway forms a vital link between key freight hubs such as the Port of Brisbane and Brisbane Airport, but increasing levels of congestion have prompted the government to respond by investing heavily in infrastructure such as the and the multi-billion dollar Bruce Highway upgrade and the Toowoomba Bypass.
Queensland Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs said the addition of two extra lanes will significantly increase productivity, saving freight operators time and money and ultimately improving Australia’s freight competitiveness.
“This project will reduce congestion and improve safety for more than 80,000 drivers using the northern section of the Gateway Motorway daily,” Mr Briggs said.
Preliminary works will commence in late 2015 with full construction expected to start in early 2016. The project is expected to be completed in late 2018.
