Pacific Highway

Australia has shortlisted bidders for two sections of the A$5.1bn ($5.34bn) Pacific Highway duplication project from Frederickton to Eungai and Woolgoolga to Glenugie.

NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), Australia, has shortlisted Abigroup, Leighton Contractors and the Thiess / McMahon Joint Venture for the duplication of highway between Frederickton to Eungai. Australia’s Infrastructure and Transport Ministry and NSW have also finalised three joint venture companies for detailed planning and design work on the section between Woolgoolga to Glenugie.

The shortlisted bidders included the RUP / Parsons Brinckerhoff JV, the SMEC / Hyder Consulting JV and AECOM / Sinclair Knight Merz JV. Australian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said those shortlisted will now be required to submit detailed tenders, with contracts for both projects to be awarded later in 2012.

"The bring forward of work on these two sections has only been made possible thanks to the new money provided in last year’s Federal and State budgets," Albanese said.

Work on the Frederickton to Eungai section will involve duplication of 26.5km of road, construction of a new interchange at Stuarts Point Road and installation of safe rest areas on both sides of the highway at Cooks Lane, south of Barraganyatti.

The Woolgoolga to Glenugie section upgrade will involve 31km duplication of highway, construction of an interchange at Range Road, two new overpasses and bridges over Corindi Creek and floodplains.

Construction on the section between Woolgoolga to Glenugie is expected to commence in 2015 and be completed by late 2016. The Pacific Highway duplication project is being implemented with A$4.1bn ($4.3bn) from the Australian Government and $1bn ($1bn) from the New South Wales administration.

Currently 346km of the existing 677km Pacific Highway between Hexham and the Queensland border comprises of four-lanes of divided road, while 60km are under construction. After completion, the highway will offer an improved link to the F3 Freeway.

Image: The A$5.1bn ($5.34bn) Pacific Highway duplication project will upgrade the Frederickton to Eungai and Woolgoolga to Glenugie sections. Photo: RMS Australia.