The contract will see the construction of 5km of new and upgraded roads. Credit: VINCI.

French construction company VINCI has announced that its Australian subsidiary Seymour Whyte has won the A$1.5bn ($1.07bn) Sydney Gateway motorway contract in Australia.

Seymour Whyte secured the contract in a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with John Holland, a Melbourne-based construction company.

Sydney Gateway is a key road interchange between WestConnex and Sydney Airport.

The contract will see the construction of 5km of new and upgraded roads, as well as an interchange connection and 19 bridges.

The two construction firms will also be responsible for constructing a dedicated flyover to the airport terminals and pathways for cyclists and pedestrians.

During the construction phase, the project is expected to create nearly 4,000 employment opportunities in the region.

In addition, Freyssinet, a VINCI subsidiary, will be providing technical bridge-launching expertise.

Upon completion, Sydney Gateway is expected to improve the city’s motorway network by integrating the newly opened St Peters Interchange to Sydney Airport and Port Botany.

Sydney Gateway project is part of the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s vision to create an integrated road and public transport network.

The project has been designed to deliver major toll-free connections from the Sydney motorway network to the airport’s international and domestic terminals.

Sydney Gateway is expected to create a new route for around 10,000 trucks a day and will divert trucks from local streets, reduce travel times and congestion.

Last month, Seymour Whyte secured two motorway contracts worth a total A$330m ($236m).

Under the first contract, worth A$270m ($193m), Seymour Whyte will be responsible for upgrading the M1 Pacific Motorway between Varsity Lakes and Tugun near the border between Queensland and New South Wales (NSW).

As part of this contract, Seymour Whyte will widen a 5km road stretch on the motorway to make it a three-lane road in both directions.