South Australia’s River Torrens to Darlington Project has reached a significant milestone, with the start of the Registration of Interest process for a head contractor to deliver the biggest infrastructure project in the state’s history.
The River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project is the final 10.5-kilometre section of the North-South Corridor. Using a combination of tunnels, a lowered and surface-level motorway, as well as overpasses and underpasses at key intersections, the project will create 78 kilometres of non-stop traffic-light-free motorway between Gawler and Old Noarlunga.
The South Australian Government on Wednesday issued the Registration of Interest (ROI) for major construction works to prequalified companies on the state government’s Tenders SA website.
Through the ROI, the SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport provides more details about the scope and technical requirements of the project to parties that would lead a consortium to ultimately bid to design, build and operate the motorway, which is jointly funded with the Australian Government.
Companies must demonstrate they have the capacity to take part in the project before they gain access to the ROI.
The procurement process will be progressed with an Expression of Interest scheduled to be issued by the Department by April 2023, followed by a Request for Proposal in around September 2023, and the Contract Award in mid-2024.
Following the release of major design and other changes by the state government in December 2022, the timeline and approach to both project construction and procurement was revised.
Main building works are proposed to start in 2025, with tunnel-boring machine (TBM) works for the Southern Tunnels planned to begin in 2026 and project completion expected in 2031.
About 500 jobs have been supported so far during preparatory works – such as design, ground investigations and the relocation of utilities – and the project is expected to support about 5,500 full-time equivalent positions a year during construction.
The successful proponent will need to demonstrate how they will deliver the state government’s commitment to maximising local companies’ participation in the project, as sub-contractors and through the supply chain, as well as South Australian workers.
South Australian companies can register their interest in being involved in the River Torrens to Darlington Project through the project page on the Industry Capability Network (ICN) Gateway website portal.
Once finished, the project will allow motorists to avoid 21 existing sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington, and it will complete the 78-kilometre North-South Corridor between Gawler and Old Noarlunga.
For further information, please visit the project website:
River Torrens to Darlington Project – DIT (www.dit.sa.gov.au/nsc/torrens-to-darlington)
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