Contract awarded for undergrounding railway line at Subiaco

5/6/97

Perth-based Multiplex Construction has been granted the tender for the undergrounding of the railway line at Subiaco as part of the $100 million Subi Centro redevelopment, Planning Minister Graham Kierath said.

"The $34.4 million tunnel project includes the sinking of 800m of railway line from west of Haydn Bunton Drive, the construction of a new underground Subiaco railway station and associated works," Mr Kierath said.

Multiplex takes over the Subi Centro site on Friday (June 6) and will immediately begin erecting the 3.5km site fencing, which should be complete by mid-June.

Tunnel works should begin mid-July.

"The Subiaco Redevelopment Authority demanded that the successful tenderer ensure that road closures are kept to a minimum and pedestrian access across the railway line at Rokeby Road be maintained during the two-year construction phase," Mr Kierath said.

"I am pleased to see that Hay Street will only be disrupted for one weekend while it is re-routed around the southern end of tunnel works at the Hay Street underpass and that pedestrian access will be maintained at all times."

Nine companies originally expressed interest in tendering for the work last November.

Four were invited to tender for the contract, which closed in February this year.

Those companies invited were John Holland Construction and Engineering Pty Ltd, Multiplex Construction WA Pty Ltd, Transfield Barclay Mowlem Joint Venture and Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd.

"The assessment panel was very impressed with the standard and detail of the four tenderers," Mr Kierath said.

"Multiplex has a wealth of experience in design and construction projects and most recently won the contract for construction of Perth's Central Park Building and the Sydney Olympic Stadium, centrepiece for the Sydney 2000 Olympics."

Media contact: Steve Manchee 481 2133