Three construction teams shortlisted for $400m Monash Freeway Upgrade

Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan announced that the $400m Monash Widening Project would move to its next phase with three highly experienced construction teams being shortlisted to complete the design and construction of the additional lanes and widening.

Three construction teams shortlisted for the D&C contract

The three companies who progressed from EOI stage are:

• CPB Pty Ltd and BMD Constructions Pty Ltd
• Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Ltd
• John Holland Pty Ltd.

A range of early work has already been completed in preparing the tender requirements including environmental studies, pavement testing and working with local councils on planning for the project.

Monash Freeway Upgrade

The Monash Freeway Upgrade will improve safety and reliability along the 44 kilometres between Chadstone and Pakenham, extending what is already Australia's longest stretch of managed motorway. The upgrade is part of the $5.5 billion Western Distributor Project and includes 30 kilometres of extra traffic lanes along with major improvements to the managed motorway system.

Key features include:

• Widening the freeway from four to five lanes each way between the EastLink interchange and South Gippsland Freeway
• Widening the freeway from two to three lanes each way between the South Gippsland Freeway and Clyde Road in Berwick
• New and upgraded freeway ramp signals

The upgrade extends over 44 kilometres between Warrigal Road in Chadstone to Koo Wee Rup Road in Pakenham. The freeway will be widened between EastLink and Clyde Road.

These improvements mean the M1 will be a managed motorway from Duncans Road inWerribee to Koo Wee Rup Road in Pakenham – around 90 kilometres connecting Melbourne's east and west.

This video provides an overview of the project and its benefits.

Western Distributor Project

The Victorian Government has partnered with Transurban to build the $5.5 billion Western Distributor Project, which includes the Monash Freeway Upgrade and upgrades to Webb Dock. The project will create 5,600 new jobs, provide a much-needed alternative to the West Gate Bridge, remove thousands of trucks from local streets, and deliver an $11 billion boost to Victoria's economy.

The project will be delivered in three distinct parts:

• Three construction teams have been shortlisted to complete the design and construction of the  Monash Freeway Upgrade with construction to begin in late 2016 and completion in 2018
• Work has  started on a new link to provide direct truck access from Webb Dock to CityLink, with completion in early 2018
• Construction on the Western Distributor will start in 2018 with the full project to be completed by 2022.

The project will be funded through a combination of tolling on the Western Distributor, an extension to Transurban's CityLink concession and State and Commonwealth contributions.

Key features include:

• Widening the West Gate Freeway from 8 to 12 lanes between the M80 and Williamstown Road
• A tunnel under Yarraville and a second river crossing over the Maribyrnong
• An elevated road along Footscray Road with direct links to the Port of Melbourne
• The longest managed motorway system in Australia from Geelong to Pakenham
• 4.5km of new cycling and pedestrian paths including completion of the Federation Trail
• Widening the Monash Freeway from 8 to 10 lanes between EastLink and South Gippsland Highway, and from 4 to 6 lanes to Clyde Road in Berwick

Have you been watching this project closely? Want to know what the Victorian State Government will be looking for when it considers the three shortlisted tenders? We'll you're in luck - we've created this free eBook based on a State Government Tendering workshop which lists the three methods evaluating officers use to distinguish bids. Check it out!