The global giant will undertake detailed design work which is expected to take at least two years to complete. Construction is forecast to begin in 2017 and should take around two and a half years to finish.

“Mackay is one of Queensland’s fastest growing regions and this project will improve the local road network and ease congestion and safety issues,” Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss said.

“When completed, the Mackay Ring Road will reduce the amount of heavy vehicles carrying hazardous loads through built-up areas and improve efficiency and safety on the highway.”

The Mackay Ring Road is one of the region’s largest infrastructure projects, forming part of an $8.5 billion investment partnership between the federal and Queensland governments to update the 1700km-long Bruce Highway.

“The design for Stage 1 includes an 11.3km two-lane rural highway bypass that will avoid 10 signalised intersections from Stockroute Road to Bald Hill Road,” Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen said.

“Fourteen new bridges will be constructed, including local road overpasses and major waterway crossings over the Pioneer River and the Fursden Creek floodplain.”

Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said: “Local residents, businesses and visitors to Mackay will be the beneficiaries of a better, more efficient road network. Importantly, this project will generate more than 600 direct jobs for workers at a time when jobs and job security are more important than ever.”

AECOM has previously been involved in constructing One World Trade Centre in New York and a number of large skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi. It is headquartered in Los Angeles.