The Joint venture between Cimic a subsidiary of CPB Contractors and John Holland has been named as the preferred contractor for the West Gate Tunnel project in Melbourne, Australia. The joint venture partners will now support Transurban and the Victorian Government through the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process, which will assess the potential environmental, social, economic and planning impacts of the project, and recommend the approach to managing them..

A comprehensive engagement program to seek input into the project from stakeholders and the community will be undertaken throughout the EES process, with a public exhibition period expected mid-2017. Following successful completion of the planning process, revenue to the contractors will be finalised at contract execution. The project value is EUR3.85 bn (AUD5.5bn).

The JV had been shortlisted last year along with two other bidders: Salini Impreglio, Fluor Australia and Lane Worldwide Infrastructure; Lendlease Engineering and Bouygues Construction.

Design and construction works include widening the West Gate Freeway from eight lanes to 12 between the M80 Ring Road and Williamstown Road; building a 2.8km eastbound tunnel and 4km westbound tunnel under Yarraville; constructing  a new bridge over the Maribyrnong River providing an alternative to the West Gate Bridge; constructing an elevated road along Footscray Road to the Port of Melbourne, CityLink and the city’s north; major new cycling and pedestrian paths. Subject to planning approvals, construction is expected to start in 2018 with the project scheduled to open to traffic in 2022. Visit http://www.johnholland.com.au and http://www.cpbcon.com.au/.  16/17.