Australia Nears Award On $1.3-billion Melbourne Expressway

	(Photo courtesy of Bouygues)

Following decades of planning and delayed bidding, the government of Australia’s Victoria state is within months of awarding a contract to design and build the estimated $1.3 billion Mitcham-Frankston expressway in Melbourne. The winning team also will finance and operate the toll highway, probably for 30 years. The expressway project, which links the eastern and southeastern suburbs of Melbourne, includes 90 bridges, 16 interchanges and 1.5 km of tunnels.

The state parliament completed enabling legislation in June so the way is clear for work to start on Australia’s largest urban road project, according to Victoria’s transportation minister, Peter Batchelor. To demonstrate government determination, he presided over the ceremonial demolition of a derelict building on the 40-km- long highway route in July.

Some of Australia’s largest contractors, assembled in two teams, bid the project in May, filing 1.5 tons of documents with the state’s Southern and Eastern Integrated Transport Authority. Despite delays, the state is sticking to its 2008 target completion. One delay was caused by efforts to resolve a potential conflict of interest arising from the presence of a top executive who is on the board of directors at firms in both camps.

Construction members of Mitcham Frankston Motorway Pty. Ltd. include Leighton Contractors Pty. Ltd., and Abigroup Contractors Pty. Ltd. A rival joint venture, ConnectEast Pty. Ltd., includes Thiess Pty. Ltd., John Holland Pty. Ltd., Alstom Australia Ltd. and also the design firm Hyder Consulting Pty.

Macao Gets $255-million Casino/Hotel Complex

A $255-million design-build casino, hotel and retail development is under way in the former Portuguese colony of Macao, a special administrative region of China. An Australian/Chinese joint venture landed the deal after a French rival pulled out of negotiations.

The Steve Wynn organization, a major operator of casinos in Las Vegas, recently awarded the contract to Australian-owned Leighton Asia (Northern) Ltd. and the Hong Kong office of China State Construction Engineering Ltd. The lead designer is Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.

According to Leighton’s managing director, Will Hamilton, the developer wanted a substantial international contractor to build the latest in a growing number of casinos in Macao, located about 60 km southwest of Hong Kong. But Leighton was not Wynn’s first choice. The developer failed to come to terms with Hong Kong-based Dragages et Travaux Publics. “We were in negotiations for a couple of months,” says Michel Cote, deputy chief executive officer of the contractor’s Paris-based parent company. “We considered conditions of the contract unacceptable.”

Due for completion in August 2006, the Wynn Resorts complex also will include gaming areas, restaurants, a ballroom and meeting rooms, health club, retail arcade and underground parking.

Work already has started on a $185-million design-build contract for a 1.7-km-long bridge spanning the entrance to Masan Bay near Pusan, South Korea. The international French-led joint venture also is contributing to project financing and will manage long-term operations of the four-lane highway link for Gyong Sang Nam province.

The Masan Bay Bridge includes a cable-stayed section with a 400-m main span and 410-m and 550-m access viaducts. Design and construction is by Bouygues Travaux Publics, owned by Paris-based Bouygues Construction S.A., and Hyundai Engineering & Co. Ltd.

The Dongbu-Kunwha-Cowi joint venture is responsible for independent checks of the team’s design while Kunwha-Duksung-Ove Arup is handling construction supervision. Including financing charges, the total cost of the project is estimated at $320 million, with the government contributing 20% and the consortium paying the balance.

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International Consortium Starts #320-million Korean Bridge Project

Work already has started on a $185-million design-build contract for a 1.7-km-long bridge spanning the entrance to Masan Bay near Pusan, South Korea. The international French-led joint venture also is contributing to project financing and will manage long-term operations of the four-lane highway link for Gyong Sang Nam province.

The Masan Bay Bridge includes a cable-stayed section with a 400-m main span and 410-m and 550-m access viaducts. Design and construction is by Bouygues Travaux Publics, owned by Paris-based Bouygues Construction S.A., and Hyundai Engineering & Co. Ltd.

The Dongbu-Kunwha-Cowi joint venture is responsible for independent checks of the team’s design while Kunwha-Duksung-Ove Arup is handling construction supervision. Including financing charges, the total cost of the project is estimated at $320 million, with the government contributing 20% and the consortium paying the balance.

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