US$700 million metro contract

A consortium comprising John Holland, CPB Contractors and Aecom has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Metro Tunnel entrances in Kensington and South Yarra, in Melbourne, Australia.

The AUS$1 billion (US$707.68 million) Rail Infrastructure Alliance (RIA) works package is the last major contract of the Metro Tunnel Project, in which a tunnel is being built under Melbourne to take the city’s busiest train lines. The scheme was said to represent the largest ever investment in public transport in the state of Victoria, Australia.

In addition to the tunnel entrances in the suburbs of Kensington and South Yarra, the RIA works package also includes works on train lines intended to maximise the benefits of the Metro Tunnel and take full advantage of the extra capacity it will create.

Public spaces near the eastern tunnel portal, including South Yarra Siding Reserve, Lovers Walk and Osborne Street Reserve, will be rejuvenated as part of these works before being returned to the local community once the tunnel entrance works are complete.

It was said that about 1,000 people will work on the RIA package.

Site preparations ahead of portal construction will begin later this year, with most RIA works expected to be finished in line with the completion of the tunnels and stations by the end of 2025.