The Western Distributor: Melbourne's second river crossing fully funded and out to market
Two weeks after it was fully funded in the Victorian Budget 2016/17, Melbourne’s second river crossing – the Western Distributor – has been put out to market.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan and Transurban CEO Scott Charlton to announce that a world-class field of international constructors are expected to bid on the $5.5 billion Western Distributor, after an extensive market engagement process.
The firms that have been invited to express interest are:
- John Holland and CPB Contractors Joint Venture
- Lend Lease and Bouygues Joint Venture
- Rizzani De Eccher Australia P/L
- Bechtel Infrastructure Australia P/L
- Salini Impregilo S.p.A
All the constructors have a proven track record building freeways, tunnels and landmark bridges in highly urbanised environments and achieving high quality urban design outcomes.
An updated reference design will be developed in response to the ongoing extensive community and stakeholder consultation, and will be released mid- year in time for the next stage of the tender process.
The tender process will be complete by the end of 2016, and the design will be thoroughly assessed through the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process, including with extensive public exhibition and consultation.
The Andrews Labor Government fully funded the Western Distributor, coming soon after the Labor Government fully funded and released the Metro Tunnel project to the market – two massive road and rail projects that are the centrepieces of a new Victorian construction jobs boom.
The Western Distributor EOI closes at 5pm on 26 May. Construction will start in late 2017 and the project will be completed in 2022.
Western Distributor Project
The Western Distributor’s new tunnel and long overdue second river crossing will cut travel time from Geelong and the west by 20 minutes. It will slash congestion, boost the Victorian economy and create 5,600 new jobs.
Key features include:
- Widening the West Gate Freeway from 8 to 12 lanes between the M80 and Williamstown Road
- A tunnel under Yarraville and a second river crossing over the Maribyrnong
- An elevated road along Footscray Road with direct links to CityLink, the Port of Melbourne and the western edge of the CBD
- The longest managed motorway system in Australia from Geelong to Pakenham
- 4.5km of new cycling and pedestrian paths including completion of the Federation Trail
- Widening the Monash Freeway from 8 to 10 lanes between EastLink and South Gippsland Highway, and from 4 to 6 lanes to Clyde Road in Berwick
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