Australia’s Brisbane City Council has given the green light to invite bids under a public-private partnership concession for the construction of the 4.7km long, US$969M north-south bypass road tunnel linking Bowen Hills and Woolloongabba (T&TI, October p8).
The scheme now has to go to the Queensland state government for approval. About US$26.8M is earmarked for the acquisition of the TBMs that are expected to excavate the link.
Brisbane’s civic cabinet gave the green light to financial feasibility studies in mid-October. Under the plan, Brisbane City Council will prepare construction specifications and invite bids. The private sector would be expected to arrange most of the project financing. The council and winning consortium would then share toll revenue during the 30-35 concession period.
