Shortlisted tenderers announced for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 Enabling Works

Enabling works on the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 project is a step closer to commencing following the announcement of three shortlisted tenderers for the Enabling Works package. 

The tenderers shortlisted to proceed to the Request for Tender process include: 

• CPB Contractors Pty Ltd / McConnell Dowell Constructors (Australia) Pty Ltd 
• Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Ltd / SRG Global 
• John Holland Group Pty Ltd 

The Enabling Works contract is expected to be awarded in 2024. 

The Enabling Works package will involve the construction of a 320-metre-long public and active transport bridge over the Parramatta River between Wentworth Point and Melrose Park along with approaches on either side of the river with a total length of 1.3 kilometres. 

The new bridge will become the first major crossing over the Parramatta River since the completion of the Ryde Bridge in 1987. 

Design and early works on the bridge, including site establishment and utilities relocations, are due to commence in 2024 and major construction to begin in 2025 – subject to planning approval. 

Once completed, the new bridge will integrate the planned 8.5-kilometre new shared walking and bike-riding paths as well as separated cycleways along the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 corridor while also connecting to existing shared path networks. 

“The community will not have to wait much longer: the latest tender to deliver a new bridge over Parramatta River follows the NSW Government’s $200 million commitment in the 2023-24 NSW Budget to expedite the Stage 2 project’s planning process. 

“We are pleased to have selected the contractos who will tender for the delivery of this significant community asset, with demonstrated experience in the successful delivery of similar bridge projects. 

“With 72,000 new homes and 110,000 new jobs expected across the Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula over the next 13 years, I am thrilled that we are delivering real, tangible infrastructure solutions to support growing communities,” Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary Infrastructure and Place Camilla Drover said. 

Parramatta Light Rail map (source: NSW Government)

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will connect Stage 1 and Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point. 

Stage 2 will have: 

• 14 fully accessible stops over a 10-kilometre two-way track 
• Connections to Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1, Sydney Metro West and heavy rail in Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park; and ferry services at Rydalmere and Sydney Olympic Park 
• An 8.5-kilometre walking and bike-riding path parallel to the light rail corridor, linking to the existing network 
• A shared light rail and pedestrian zone along Dawn Fraser Avenue in Sydney Olympic Park between Australia Avenue and Olympic Boulevard 
• New public and active transport bridges, including connections over the Parramatta River from Camellia to Rydalmere and Melrose Park to Wentworth Point 
• Services approximately every 7.5 minutes between 7am and 7pm on weekdays 
• Travel times of around 31 minutes from Camellia to the Carter Street Precinct via Sydney Olympic Park, and a further 7 minutes to the Parramatta CBD 

The New South Wales Government has committed $602.4 million towards the delivery of enabling works on the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 project. The final cost of the entire project is going to be confirmed once contracts to design, build, operate and maintain the light rail network are signed. 

Source: Transport for NSW – Media Releases; NSW Government – Parramatta Light Rail (1, 2); City of Parramatta