The River Torrens to Darlington Project in South Australia has reached a significant milestone, with the start of the Registration of Interest (ROI) process for the head contractor to deliver the largest infrastructure project in the state's history
The South Australian government will issue the ROI to pre-qualified companies via its Tenders SA website, providing more details on the project’s scope and technical requirements.
The procurement process will include an Expression of Interest in April 2023, followed by a Request for Proposal in September 2023, and the Contract Award in mid-2024.
Main building works are expected to start in 2025 and project completion is expected in 2031.
According to federal transport minister Catherine King, the project will deliver immense value to local residents.
“This is an important project for South Australia and will make a real difference to people, getting them home quicker and safer,” King says.
“The issuing of the Registration of Interest is further evidence that we’re getting on with the job of building the biggest and most ambitious infrastructure project in South Australian history.”
SA infrastructure and transport minister Tom Koutsantonis says there should be widespread interest in the project.
“The registration of interest allows the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to provide more information about the project to potential bidders, and for those entities to demonstrate their level of interest and technical capability,” Koutsantonis says.
“It’s the first part of a four-phase procurement process that is scheduled to culminate in mid-2024 with the awarding of the main construction contract.
“We are confident there will be widespread interest in this procurement process and the chance to lead the delivery of this state-building project.”
The successful proponent must demonstrate their ability to maximize local companies’ and South Australian workers’ participation in the project as subcontractors and through the supply chain.
The state government is committed to ensuring that at least 90 per cent of the project labour will be provided by South Australian workers.
Once completed, the project will allow motorists to avoid 21 sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington and it will complete the 78-kilometer North-South Corridor between Gawler and Old Noarlunga.
The project has already supported 500 jobs in preparatory works and is expected to support about 5,500 full-time equivalent positions per year during construction. South Australian companies can register their interest in the project through the Industry Capability Network Gateway website portal.