Fulton Hogan Egis O&M (FHEO&M) has received the contract for operation and maintenance of WestConnex from Sydney Motorway Corporation (SMC) in Australia.

Fulton Hogan Construction and Egis Projects Asia Pacific, Egis’s Australian unit, each hold a 50% stake in FHEO&M.

WestConnex is considered to be largest road infrastructure projects in Australia.

"WestConnex is considered to be largest road infrastructure projects in Australia."

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott had approved $3bn for the project in May 2014, reported Sbs.com.au.

This project is being delivered by SMC, which is a private corporation in which the shareholders are the minister for roads, maritime and freight, and the treasurer of New South Wales (NSW).

The WestConnex project is expected to cut down commute time for road users in the Sydney area and offer more than A$20bn ($13.8bn) in economic benefits to NSW.

This project is delivered in three phases. The first phase (WestConnex M4) comprises the widening of existing M4 motorway and a 5.5km tunnel extension; phase two (WestConnex M5) includes a new 9km road tunnel, which will increase the capacity of the existing M5 East motorway corridor by more than twice and offer a new interchange, north of the city’s airport; phase three (WestConnex M4-M5 Link) will connect stages one and two through a new road tunnel, linking the M4 and M5 corridors.

The term of the contract for stages one and two is ten years.

Operation and maintenance will commence in 2019.

The contract also includes the operation and maintenance of the existing M5 East Motorway, which was earlier operated and maintained by Egis from 2001 to 2011, as part of the BHEgis joint venture.

M5 East is a 10km motorway with tunnels running to 4.5km.

With this contract, Egis claimed that it has bolstered its presence in tunnel and motorway operation, as well as maintenance provider in Australia and worldwide.

It has about 80km of tunnels under contract in ten countries.