The Victorian Government has released the names of the companies shortlisted for two packages valued at more than $1 billion to get rid of 11 dangerous level crossings in Melbourne.
Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, announced a joint venture of John Holland and KBR, and a joint venture of CPB Contractors and Aurecon as the companies shortlisted for the North West Program Alliance.
The successful bidder will remove dangerous and congested level crossings at Camp Road in Campbellfield and Buckley Street in Essendon, with work to start in 2017.
Under the program alliance model, if these removals are delivered well, the successful bidder will retain the contract to remove crossings at Glenroy Road in Glenroy, Bell Street in Coburg and Moreland Road in Brunswick.
A joint venture of McConnell Dowell, Arup and Mott McDonald, and a joint venture of Coleman Rail, Seymour Whyte and Arcadis Australia have been shortlisted for the Western Program Alliance.
This alliance will remove the Abbots Road level crossing in Dandenong South and the Kororoit Creek Road crossing in Williamstown North, as well as duplicating part of the Altona Loop to boost the reliability of services.
The successful bidder from these removals will also remove the Aviation Road level crossing in Laverton, Ferguson Street crossing in Williamstown, and Cherry and Werribee Street crossings in Werribee.
The program alliance model – where successful bidders must meet strict performance measures to remove the other crossings – reduces procurement time, meaning the crossings are removed sooner.
It also provides a pipeline of work which enables constructors to build and maintain skilled workforces, better supporting local jobs and opportunities for apprentices, trainees and cadets.
“These crossings clog streets, risk lives and hold our train system back – we’re getting rid of them and some of the biggest construction firms in the country are bidding for the work,” Ms Allan said.
“Construction on six of these level crossing removals will begin next year and by late 2018, the removal of 37 of Victoria’s most dangerous and congested crossings will be finished or underway.”
