Expressions of interest have opened on one of the biggest ever Initial and Early Works packages on an infrastructure project in Australian history, as part of Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop.
Interested parties are being sought to deliver the first stage of construction on Stage One of the Suburban Rail Loop project.
The early works packages will see roads and power supplies upgrades, new sub-stations built, utility relocations and protection, ground improvements, and sites across Melbourne’s south-east prepared to make way for massive tunnel boring machines (TBM).
Some of Australia’s leading construction companies have signalled interest in delivering the program of works, which aims to create up to 800 direct jobs, ahead of the creation of up to 20,000 jobs during the project’s major construction process.
The 2020 Victorian Budget included $2.2 billion to begin the procurement process, buy the land required for the TBM launches and facilitate construction of the six new underground stations.
Related stories:
- Works to start on Stage One of Suburban Rail Loop
- Plans updated for Suburban Rail Loop
- Preferred route for Suburban Rail Loop revealed
The Suburban Rail Loop aims to support a population of nine million by 2050 by reducing travel times, making areas more accessible and allowing people to work closer to where they live.
Stage One will connect growing health, education, retail and employment precincts in Melbourne’s south east between Cheltenham and Box Hill, via 26-kilometre twin underground rail tunnels. Future stages will see the line continue through Melbourne’s northern suburbs to Melbourne Airport and around to Werribee.
The proposed locations for the Stage One train stations include the starting point of the line near Southland, adjacent to Monash and Deakin universities, in the centre of Box Hill and Glen Waverley, and a major transport hub to be created north of Carinish Road, Clayton, connecting regional passengers to the Loop.
“This is the biggest transport project in Victorian history and it will transform our state forever – we know that the best construction companies want to be a part of delivering it,” Suburban Rail Loop Minister Jacinta Allan said.
“We said we’d get on and deliver Stage One of Suburban Rail Loop and we’re not wasting a second – this early phase of construction is going to create hundreds of local jobs and make this huge project a reality.”
The EOI will close at 2pm on 29 January, 2021.