Abigroup To Start Work On Victoria's New Peninsula Link

Abigroup to Start Work on Victoria's New Peninsula Link

Media Release

17 February, 2010

Abigroup will start work on Victoria's Peninsula Link project just over a month after the Government announcement appointing the Southern Way consortium, which was sponsored by Abigroup and the Royal Bank of Scotland, to build the new road and operate it for a period of 25 years.

Victorian Premier John Brumby and Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas marked the start of work on the $759 million project at Frankston today by turning the first sod with a bulldozer from Abigroup's extensive earthmoving fleet.

Abigroup Managing Director David Jurd said, "Peninsula Link is a great example of the public and private sectors coming together with innovative solutions to deliver infrastructure, and its time saving benefits, to the community years ahead of what would otherwise be the case.

"A project of this size stimulates the economy, starting today, and when completed provides benefits to the community for years to come.

"Abigroup will build the skills of our new employees, with young people in particular benefitting from job specific training and development provided through our Registered Training Organisation."

The Peninsula Link project involves the construction of 27 kilometres of roadway, with two lanes in each direction, from its connection with EastLink to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Mt Martha.

The project includes:
* 11 local road connections;
* more than 35 bridges;
* a 22 km cycling and walking path;
* a roadside control centre;
* fauna crossing underpaths; and
* community partnerships with the McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park and
CERES.

Abigroup is committed to keeping stakeholders informed and working closely with the community throughout construction and has established a 24 hour contact line and dedicated email address for the project.

Construction work on Peninsula Link is scheduled for completion in early 2013.

Abigroup is a diverse national contractor with expert teams delivering works in areas including roads, buildings, water, rail, mining services, tunnels, bridges and telecommunications.

Abigroup is a member of the Bilfinger Berger Australia group. For further information contact: Peter Scott, Media Relations Manager, Abigroup Ltd, Ph: 02 9499 0756, mobile 0404 469 823.

For Peninsula Link project information or for assistance with Southern Way and Abigroup media interviews on the day contact: Carol Bartley, Stakeholder Engagement manager, Southern Way, mobile 0429 602 817.


SOURCE: Abigroup