Contract on NZ$210 million Manukau Extension

Media Release
For immediate release
April 27, 2006

Works Infrastructure wins major supplier contract on NZ$210 million Manukau Extension Project

Works Infrastructure New Zealand has announced that it will be the major supplier of asphalt, road surfacing products and engineering services to Leighton Contractors, following the company’s confirmation by Transit New Zealand as the Preferred Tenderer on the Manukau Extension project in Auckland.

The proposed project involves the design and construction of a new four-lane motorway, approximately five kilometres long, which will connect the existing SH20 and SH1 motorways south of the Manukau City Centre.

The NZ$210 million project will be delivered through a joint venture between Leighton Contractors and Works Infrastructure New Zealand, with the design work being undertaken by a group of consultants led by Sinclair Knight Merz and Golder Associates.

Works Infrastructure New Zealand’s CEO, Peter Reidy, said that Works Infrastructure was pleased to be a key provider of product and services to Leighton Contractors as the principal construction contractor on the project.

“Works Infrastructure has a long history of providing infrastructure engineering and road maintenance services to Transit New Zealand, including long term (ten year) and medium term (five year) road maintenance contracts for major highways throughout New Zealand.

“We bring to the joint venture our capability in road engineering services, civil works, road surfacing and sealing, which will include the supply of over 150,000 tonnes of asphaltic concrete from our Auckland plant facilities,” said Mr Reidy.

The new motorway link is designed to be constructed as dual two-lane carriageways, with provision for future widening to dual three-lane carriageways. Included in the works are three interchanges, four grade separated intersections and three motorway crossings over streams and the main trunk rail corridor. Enabling works for a future rail link to the Manukau City centre will also be delivered as part of the project.

Construction is expected to begin in the second half of this year and take four years to complete.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
Works Infrastructure New Zealand (www.works.co.nz) is a division of Downer EDI with more 3,000 employees throughout New Zealand. Works Infrastructure provides services for the development, asset management and maintenance of public and private infrastructure assets, including roads, rail track, utility services, water supply, wastewater treatment, parks and reserves.

Downer EDI Limited (www.downeredi.com.au) is an Australian top-100 company that provides comprehensive engineering and infrastructure management services to the public and private transport, energy, communications and resources sectors in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

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