RiverCity Motorway Consortium, comprising Leighton Contractors, Baulderstone Hornibrook, Bilfinger Berger Concessions and ABN Amro, was the first group to publicly confirm its intention to bid for a franchise to develop Brisbane’s US$777M North-South highway tunnel in Australia (T&TI, April, p14).
About four groups were expected to apply for prequalification by the May 18 deadline. Speculation has been rife about an application from a Chinese contracting group after officials from Brisbane City Council briefed representatives from Shanghai Tunnelling Engineering, Chongqing Foreign Construction and Chongqing Construction Commission.
The 4.7km tunnel is part of the US$3.1bn Trans-Apex project of five tunnels proposed by Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Campbell Newman. Plans call for the construction of twin 12m diameter parallel tubes, including a section under Brisbane River, mainly through hard rock.
The 35-year concession also includes the installation of safety, ventilation, fire protection and monitoring systems, as well as an electronic tolling system.
