A SPANISH consortium has been awarded the tender for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) project, outbidding two largely-Australian groups.
Nexus Consortium, made up of predominantly international companies including Plenary Group and Cintra Infraestructuras Internacional, was announced as the preferred proponent today.
The $1.6 billion contract is touted as one of Queensland’s highest priority road infrastructure projects.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the selection was made on Nexus’ world-class merit.
“The selection of Nexus is a result of the Australian and Queensland governments’ drive to attract world class expertise and innovation to deliver infrastructure.”
The unsuccessful tenderers were consortiums RangeConnect and RangeLink – the latter incorporating Toowoomba industrialist Wagners who will see the TSRC route run directly past their newly-opened Wellcamp airport.
The 41-kilometre route’s design includes a four-lane connection, between Warrego Highway East Interchange at Helidon and Warrego Highway West.
An open-cut solution at the top of the Range was opted over a tunnel design, as initially designed.
Federal Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane said the solution would further decrease heavy vehicle traffic from Toowoomba’s CBD.
“The preferred open-cut solution will accommodate over-dimension trucks and all classes of dangerous goods vehicles,” Mr Macfarlane said.
Paul Antonio, Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor, said he was delighted at the project’s milestone, but believed “there is room for refinements” in the design.
“At the moment it means trucks carrying fuel and explosives can get out of town which is essential,” Cr Antonio said.
The project is expected to provide over 1,800 full-time jobs during the three-and-a-half year construction phase, expected to being later this year.
The Federal Government has committed up to $1.285 billion to fund the project and the State Government has committed $321 million.
The TSRC will be a toll road, scheduled to open in late 2018.