Four major Australian companies have put their hands up to build the proposed extension of Mitchell Freeway later this year.
Planning and Infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan said a call for expressions of interest in January by Main Roads WA resulted in submissions from the biggest construction companies:
- Macmahon Holdings;
- The John Holland Group;
- Leighton Contractors Pty. Ltd;
- Thiess Pty. Ltd
"Road builders are being asked to deliver the extension, from Hodges Drive to Burns Beach Road, under a single design and construct contract," Ms MacTiernan said.
"Main Roads will now begin assessing the four project delivery proposals and will decide in the next three weeks how many contractors go forward to the tender stage.
"To ensure competitiveness, where possible the shortlist will include at least one bidder who is not related to other bidders."
More than $170million will be spent extending Mitchell Freeway from Hodges Drive to Shenton Avenue, a distance of 1.8km, and from Shenton Avenue to Burns Beach Road (2.2 km).
Works will commence by the end of 2006 and take about two years to complete.
Both Thiess Pty Ltd and John Holland Group are majority owned by Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd.