Shortlist for Western Distributor construction

Shortlist for Western  Distributor construction

The State Government has narrowed down the field of contenders vying to build the Western Distributor.

Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan last month announced the short-listed contenders were John Holland and CPB Contractors, Lend Lease Engineering and Bouygues Construction and an international consortium of Salini Impreglio, Fluor Australia and Lane Worldwide Infrastructure.

The $5.5 billion Western Distributor is expected to reduce congestion and take trucks off inner-west streets, with the widening of the West Gate Freeway, a tunnel under Yarraville, a second river crossing and connections with the port, CityLink and the city.

But it’s anticipated Docklands will get the raw-end of the deal, with a lot more traffic expected on Wurundjeri Way when it becomes a “city bypass” after the proposed road is built.

Under current plans, east-bound traffic on Dynon Rd will be offered a non-tolled diversion around the west of the CBD via an extended Wurundjeri Way.

The short-listed constructors will be required to prepare fully-costed design for the road.

A reference design is also being developed, taking into account feedback from consultation with local government, residents, businesses and the freight industry.

The reference design and any “innovative solutions” developed by the three tenders will be assessed through the environmental effects statement (EES) process.

The Government says the contract for the project is set to be signed in late 2017, with the project to start construction soon after and be completed by 2022.

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