Tenders are being invited to engage a head contractor to manage the largest project underway as part of the $500 million Newell Highway Upgrade program in New South Wales.
The Australian and New South Wales Governments are investing $257 million in Stage 1 of the Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrade between Narrabri and Moree. Stage 1 works will include four priority sections along the Newell Highway with 27.3 kilometres of new road pavement, intersection improvements, widening of road shoulders and the provision of five additional overtaking lanes.
This project will improve safety for motorists and reduce future maintenance requirements and costs.
Stimulus funding enabled early work to be completed in June 2020 consisting of water main relocations in Bellata.
A tender package has been released to market and be open for approximately eight weeks to engage the head contractor on the main contract for the work, which will involve building new sections of road, as well as five new overtaking lanes, intersection upgrades and multiple new bridge-sized culverts.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Federal Government’s $205.7 million investment would ensure this stretch of road met the needs of motorists and freight vehicles, while providing opportunities for local and regional contractors.
“This is a major upgrade for the Newell Highway, which connects freight operators and other road users travelling inland between Queensland and Victoria and many regional communities,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The project will reduce travel times, increase freight productivity and improve access along the Newell Highway, as well as to the future Moree Special Activation Precinct and Northern NSW Inland Port at Narrabri.”
New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said work included installing a heavy-duty surface suitable for heavy vehicles along the prioritised sections of the highway to boost freight efficiencies and improve connectivity for all road users.
“The Newell Highway is the freight backbone of the state, and this latest upgrade builds on our record investment, which also includes rolling out approximately 40 overtaking lanes and opening road train access along the entire length of the highway, to unlock big freight efficiency gains from border to border,” Mr Toole.
“Our focus is now on delivering the biggest project under the jointly funded Newell Highway Upgrade package, and today’s release of the tender for the main contract for this project, brings us a step closer to seeing shovels in the ground.”
Work is planned to commence in early 2022 following the announcement of the successful head contractor for the main construction contract.
A mandatory pre-tender meeting for pre-qualified tenderers will be held on Tuesday, 12 October 2021.
For more information on the project visit: https://nswroads.work/n2m
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