Group to deliver roading upgrades

QUEENSTOWN

THE consortium of companies that will deliver a suite of costly transport projects in the Wakatipu has been named.

A joint media statement by the Queenstown Lakes District Council and NZ Transport Agency yesterday said the consortium, called the Wakatipu Transport Programme Alliance, consisted of Beca, Downer, Fulton Hogan and WSP.

The consortium will deliver the Queenstown Town Centre Street Upgrades project, which is being funded by the Government ($35 million) and council ($25 million), and $90 million of improvements to State Highways 6 and 6A.

The latter include bus lanes and bus priority features on Frankton Rd (SH6A), a new Frankton bus hub, improvements to the BP intersection, a new roundabout at the intersection of SH6 and Howards Dr, and an underpass of the FranktonLadies Mile highway (SH6) to improve walking and cycling connections.

Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult said he was impressed by the speed at which the consortium had been formed, which would mean the council was ‘‘delivering to our promise of being on the ground before Christmas’’.

NZTA transport services general manager Brett Gliddon said the benefits of the partnership were a ‘‘quick mobilisation’’ and a consistent pipeline of work.