RMS selects alliance partners to deliver Newell Highway works

Roads and Maritime Services has selected AECOM and BMD Constructions as its strategic partners in the Newell Highway Program Alliance, tasked with delivering a minimum of 45 kilometres of new overtaking lanes on the major route.

The works are aimed at improving safety, reducing travel times and improve freight productivity on the highway, which stretches over 1060 kilometres from the Victorian border at Tocumwal to the Queensland border at Goondiwindi.

The Alliance will include a leadership team with representatives from each organisation.

AECOM will be represented by Jay Stricker, with BMD Constructions General Manager NSW/ACT John Vida representing BMD.

“We are delighted to be part of this partnership with Roads and Maritime Services and BMD, we are confident that this collaborative approach between the public and private sector is the best way to deliver this significant program of work,” Ms Stricker said.

“Throughout the project we will have a joint focus on project safety, reducing delivery timelines and keeping this critical freight route flowing.”

The length of the highway presents a number of unique challenges to the alliance such as logistics, resources, materials and ensuring on-site safety in remote areas. Where possible the construction will be delivered off-line helping to keep both lanes of the two-lane highway moving.

The new overtaking lanes are expected to provide around 25 minutes of travel time savings along the length of the Newell Highway between the state borders.

Mr. Vida said it is the most significant alliance between the private sector and Roads and Maritime Services for a number of years.

“It brings together the design, construction and project management responsibilities into one organisation ensuring a consistent approach where everyone’s goals are aligned,” he said.

Work on the first pair of overtaking lanes at Dustys Creek, north of Gilgandra, is expected to start in early 2019.