The M80 ring road upgrade contract in Victoria, Australia, received by Theiss along with its Tulla Sydney Alliance partners, has been finalised at $623m.

The 9.7km road upgrade in Melbourne is expected to be completed between the Calder Freeway and Sydney Road.

The ring road will connect a number of corridors and major arterial roads and facilitate freight movement between Melbourne, regional Victoria and interstate capitals.

The alliance’s contract also includes widening to three lanes in each direction and a fourth and fifth lane between some interchanges, and the installation of intelligent transport systems.

The new lanes on the Tulla Sydney section track are scheduled to open by the end of 2012.

The upgrade project is being funded by the Victorian and Australian Governments and is expected to improve safety, congestion issues, travel times and reliability.

Thiess joined with VicRoads and design partners Parsons Brinkerhoff and Hyder Consulting to form the Tulla Sydney Alliance in 2009.