Roading contractors lining up to build Wellington Bypass

Two, possibly three contractors are lining up to bid for building Wellington’s Inner City Bypass says Roading New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Chris Olsen.

“Roading New Zealand was very surprised to read a newspaper story on Saturday saying that there was no one to build the Wellington Bypass, when we know that two or three of our members are intending to bid for the project,” says Mr Olsen. The article quoted a Contractors Federation source, among others.

“The project certainly has some challenges but Roading New Zealand members have been working constructively with Transit New Zealand over past weeks to manage these,” he said.

The article also referred to skill shortages as a contributing factor. “This is incorrect”, says Mr Olsen. “We actually have capacity at present. However, we anticipate a potential shortfall in a years time when additional Government funding for New Zealand’s land transport system becomes available. This is why we as an industry have been working hard over the past nine months to develop a strategy to attract more workers to the sector,” said Mr Olsen.

“Transit is to be congratulated on the professional and positive way in which it has handled the situation to get a good outcome,” he said.

Roading New Zealand (previously called the NZ Pavement and Bitumen Contractors Association and a former Affiliate of the Contractors Federation) was launched at a function at Parliament, hosted by the Hon Pete Hodgson, last week.

Roading New Zealand represents the majority of New Zealand's roading construction companies. Member companies currently contract and/or build up to 90% of Transit’s work, and have a combined turnover of approximately $1.4 billion per annum.

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