The Australian Government is calling for expressions of interest (EOI) to duplicate the Western Highway from Buangor to Ararat, Victoria.
The EOI comes as work continues on the $662.3 million upgrade on the highway between Ballarat and Stawell.
According to a statement from Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester, the Western Highway is one of Victoria’s busiest rural highways and most significant interstate freight routes.
“The duplication from Buangor to Ararat will improve safety by adding another 12.5 kilometres of lanes to the 34 kilometres of highway already duplicated,” he said.
EOI are open until Wednesday 11 May before tenderers are shortlisted in June. Tenderers will then be invited to submit a request for tender and the successful contractor is expected to be appointed in October when detailed design work begins.
The work from Buangor to Ararat is expected to start in early 2017 and will take about two years to complete. Some pre-construction work, including fence building, is expected to start in the next few months.
The Australian Government has committed $501.3 million and the Victorian Government $161 million to duplicate the Western Highway from Ballarat and Stawell.