After calling for EOI's in October 2015, the SA Government have awarded Lendlease Engineering the design & construct contract for the $985m Northern Connector Project.
The project is a critical component of Adelaide’s North-South Corridor and will allow communters to avoid 6 sets of traffic lights, saving up to 8 mins in peak hour. The 6-lane motorway will have a 110km/h speed limit and boast a 16km shared path for cyclists and pedestrians that will connect with the Northern Expressway’s existing 23 kilometre path.
North Corridor planning visualisation. Source: SA Govt
The contract requires that at least 50% of the 480 workers needed for the project must come from the northern suburbs of Adelaide and at least 20% of the workers must be Aboriginal, an apprentice/trainee or long-term unemployed. Overall, 90% of the hours of work done on the project must be carried out by South Australians.
Lendlease has a strong history of supporting the local workforce - in 2014, 60% of workers hired by the company for the Southern Expressway project were from the southern suburbs. The State Govt expect so see a continuation of that committment throughout the Northern Connector project.
Lendlease have already stepped up to the plate, showing support for steelworks company Arrium in Whyalla to secure a minimum of 70% of steel needed for the project. About 7500 tonnes of reinforcing/structural steel is expected to come from Arrium.
Early earthworks and upgrades to surrounding roads began in January and major road construction is expected to start sometime in July. The 15.5km motorway is expected to be complete by mid-2019.
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Source: Adelaide Now, SA Govt