The Victorian Government has announced the successful contractor to build a 12.5-kilometre duplication of the Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat in Victoria.
A joint venture between CPB Contractors and Seymour Whyte Constructions has secured the contract, which is part of the wider $659.7 million project to duplicate the highway between Ballarat and Stawell.
Construction also includes a new bridge over the railway line, two new bridges over Hopkins River, additional turning lanes and an interchange with entry and exit ramps at Hillside Road.
The government said some pre-construction work, including fence construction, will be completed over the next few weeks.
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said the contract announcement was another sign of progress on the project and an important step in building safer roads throughout the state.
“There were 91 crashes between Ballarat and Stawell in the five-year period to June 2017, including eight fatalities and 51 serious injuries – tragic figures that we are determined to reduce through our investment in improvements like these,” Mr.Donnellan said.
The Australian Government has committed $499.3 million and the Victorian Government $160.3 million to the overall Western Highway duplication between Ballarat and Stawell.
Construction is expected to begin in March and take around two years to complete.
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