Contracts worth over a billion dollars combined have been awarded to two alliances for the removal of a dozen level crossings across Melbourne’s north, west and south-west regions.
Western Program Alliance
A McConnell Dowell, Arup and Mott MacDonald-led alliance has been appointed to head the removal of the Kororoit Creek Road level crossing in Williamstown North. The alliance will also duplicate part of the Altona Loop, which is part of the Western Program Alliance.
Construction will be fast-tracked to begin this year, with the level crossing expected to be removed by the end of 2018.
“We are very pleased to be working with our project partners, the Level Crossing Removal Authority and MTM to remove this level crossing and enhance safety and reduce congestion for residents and commuters.
“We will work closely with stakeholders and the local community to ensure the work is done with minimal disruption, and to ensure the new and improved infrastructure delivers improved travel outcomes and public amenity,” said McConnell Dowell Australian Managing Director Jim Frith.
The alliance will retain its contract to remove other level crossings, including the one at Abbotts Road in Dandenong South if it meets the strict performance measures of the Kororoit Creek Road level crossing removal, with construction to also begin this year. Level crossing removal at Aviation Road in Laverton, Ferguson Street in Williamstown as well as Cherry and Werribee Streets in Werribee will follow suit.
North-West Program Alliance
The alliance led by John Holland and Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) has been awarded the contract to deliver the North-West Program. The project involves removing the Camp Road level crossing in Campbellfield and followed by the level crossing at Skye/Overton Road in Frankston and Buckley Street in Essendon.
Works have also been fast-tracked for this project, with construction to begin this year for all three.
The alliance will progressively remove the level crossings at Glenroy Road in Glenroy as well as the ones at Bell Street in Coburg and Moreland Road in Brunswick if works on the first three are delivered well.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the Level Crossing Removal Authority to provide these important upgrades for the local community. These level crossing removals will deliver significant safety improvements to the community, relieve prolonged traffic congestion and provide a more efficient public transport network,” said John Holland Chief Executive Officer Joe Barr.
These projects are expected to generate thousands of local jobs as well as provide skills and opportunities for hundreds of apprentices, trainees and cadets through the State Government’s Major Projects Skill Guarantee.
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Source: Level Crossings Removal Authority, John Holland and McConnell Dowell
