HEB Construction, a subsidiary of VINCI Construction, has been selected as part of an alliance contract valued at NZ$700m (€415m), to build the Northern Corridor Improvements Project (NCI Project) in New Zealand.

The contract involves the creation of a new connection between the Northern Motorway (State Highway 1) and Upper Harbour Highway (State Highway 18) in the north of Auckland.

Furthermore, the Northern Busway will be extended to Albany and about 7km of new walking and cycling paths would be added.

In addition, HEB Construction, the NCI Project Alliance includes the New Zealand Transport Agency, Fulton Hogan, Opus and Jacobs.

After completion, the project will serve as an alternative route to State Highway 1 and the Auckland Harbour Bridge and helps to realise the full benefits of the Western Ring Route.

The connection is also expected to create better travel choices for walkers, cyclists and users of public transport.

“Construction works of the project are expected to begin this year, with completion set to take place in stages over the next four years.”

The alliance will now finalise the detailed design of the project.

It has also started hiring more than 150 people in different roles, including surveyors, engineers, safety advisors, drainlayers, machine operators and general construction field staff.

Construction works of the project are expected to begin this year, with completion set to take place in stages over the next four years.

The first stage of construction will include road resurfacing and the deployment of moveable median barriers.

The NCI project team undertook and completed its major investigation, planning and business case phases in 2014-15, and gained the Transport Agency board’s approval for its draft alignment plan.

In 2016-17, it applied for approval in a Board of Inquiry process through the Environmental Protection Authority, and secured consent and designation on 22 November 2017.