Contractor named for Mackay Ring Road works

CIMIC Group company CPB Contractors has been selected to deliver Stage 1 of the $497.3 million Mackay Ring Road project.

The construct-only contract will generate revenue to CPB Contractors of about $215 million.

Managing director Román Garrido said the company was focused on maximising opportunities for local employment and delivering a socially-inclusive procurement strategy to broaden the community benefits of the project.

Stage 1 works include an 11.3km highway to divert traffic from the Bruce Highway at Stockroute Rd (west of Mackay) to the Bald Hill Rd intersection (north of Mackay); 13 bridge structures; two underpasses for local traffic; and two dual lane roundabouts.

Stage 1 construction is expected to commence in mid-2017 and be completed by late 2019.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said the project would be a game-changer for the region, by enhancing the capacity, safety and efficiency of the highway and reducing travel times for vehicles going through Mackay by 50 per cent and port-bound fuel and sugar trucks by 20 to 30 per cent.

The $497.3 million Mackay Ring Road (Stage 1) project is being funded by the Australian Government ($397.9 million) and Queensland Government ($99.4 million).