The three consortia were shortlisted among seven tenderers and comprise:
- Pacific Complete, comprising CH2M Hill, Laing O'Rourke and Parsons Brinkerhoff;
- The Jacobs Group and Fulton Hogan joint venture; and
- The PacWay Delivery Partner joint venture, comprising Advisian, Aurecon, Mace and Seymour Whyte.
“The three consortia are now in the final stage of choice, with the competitive tender starting today [Monday] to further develop their proposals and commercial terms,” Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said.
“We are looking to announce the successful industry partner early in 2015, and also expect major work to start next year.”
The upgrade will take place between Woolgoolga and Ballina and will turn the last 155km of two-lane Pacific Hwy into a four lane, dual carriageway.
Works will also include construction of ten grade separated interchanges, wildlife crossings and major bridges crossing the Clarence and Richmond rivers.
The road will be built with 1-in-20 year minimum flood immunity across the major floodplains and 1-in-100 year minimum flood immunity across the remaining areas.
Construction will start next year and will create 2500 direct jobs.
The overall upgrade of the Pacific Hwy is on track for completion by the end of the decade, with 60% of the upgrade already completed.
On Monday, contractor McConnell Dowell started works on the $230 million Kundabung to Kempsey upgrade.
The project involves turning 14km of divided highway into a dual carriageway in each direction from north of Barrys Creek Road to the Kempsey Bypass. The upgrade is due for completion in 2017.
