Ferrovial-Acciona consortium named preferred bidder for Pacific Highway upgrade in Australia

Ferrovial, a leading operator of infrastructure and cities, in partnership with Acciona, a global provider of renewable energy, infrastructure and water services, have been announced preferred bidders for the upgrade of a 19.5 km section of the Pacific Highway between Warrell Creek and Nambucca Heads. The Pacific Highway is a heavily-transited route along the eastern seaboard  in Australia, linking Sydney, its largest city, to Brisbane, the third-largest. The highway is being upgraded and expanded as part of the  Federal and State Government's  plan to  complete this link to a four lane divided highway. This Design and Construction Project will be Ferrovial’s first major infrastructure project in Australia, where it is also bidding for several infrastructure projects. More than 15,000 motorists travel on the Warrell Creek to Nambucca section of the Pacific Highway every day. The upgrade of this heavily-travelled section is being co-financed by the Australian and New South Wales governments. The project includes the design and construction of the 19.5 km section, including new bridges over the Nambucca river at Macksville and Warrell Creek, and two new grade separated interchanges. Following a detailed design phase, construction is expected to commence in the second half of the year 2014. This contract strengthens Ferrovial international business. The company is carrying on major infrastructure projects in the United States, where is developing the LBJ and North Tarrant Express highways projects in Texas under the ‘managed lanes’ scheme. In Canada, the company is in charge of the expansion of the 407 ETR in Toronto. Ferrovial is also playing a key role in the development of the Crossrail, the project that proposes to increase a 10% London’s rail capacity through the construction of 118 kilometres of infrastructure.