This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 21, 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: A joint venture (JV) between Gamuda Bhd and BMD Constructions Pty Ltd (Gamuda-BMD JV) has been invited to tender for a motorway connecting to the south of Sydney, Australia, costing about A$2.6 billion (RM7.27 billion).

A statement issued by the New South Wales (NSW) state government said successful applicants from last year’s expression of interest to design and construct the M6 Stage 1 project will be invited to tender for it.

The applicants include Gamuda-BMD JV, Acciona-Samsung JV and CPB-Ghella JV.

NSW’s Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the project, which will allow motorists to bypass up to 23 sets of traffic lights on the Princes Highway and take up to 2,000 heavy vehicles off surface roads per day, will create around 5,300 jobs.

“We know many workers, contractors and subcontractors are doing it tough during this challenging period, and the start of works on the M6 Stage 1 will be a major boost for the construction industry.

“In NSW, there are almost 400,000 people employed in property and construction, and we are committed to keeping as many of them in work as possible,” said Constance.

“The construction of M6 Stage 1 will create thousands of new jobs and support families across Sydney,” he added.

Constance also said that a A$20 million upgrade of recreational facilities at popular local parks in Rockdale and Brighton-Le-Sands will start in mid-2020.