A new alliance called Aspiring Highways, led by Fulton Hogan has successfully won the new Central Otago highway network maintenance contract from the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Fulton Hogan formed a partnership with professional engineering services provider Opus Consultants, Whitestone Contracting Ltd and Base Contracting Ltd, who will collectively deliver the new contract covering 537km of highway.
The network includes strategic state highway routes connecting the West Coast from Haast Pass on SH6 down through Queenstown to Kingston in the south, the main link to Central Otago from Canterbury on SH8 from the Lindis Pass, and eastwards connecting Coastal Otago from Raes Junction, and also on SH 85 from Kyeburn near Ranfurly.
The $65 million, seven-year contract, with up to two further years based on performance, is designed to deliver greater efficiencies regarding operation and costs, says NZTA Southern business unit manager Ian Duncan.
“With one contract for maintaining highways in the Queenstown-Lakes and Central Otago districts, the Agency is expecting savings across the board,” he says.
Duncan says this performance-based contract focusses on delivering quality outcomes for the network and all road users.
“Fulton Hogan has maintained the Central Otago highway system for the last five years and has depots throughout the area, plus a good working knowledge of both the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago districts. Their consulting partner Opus has more than 20 years’ highway experience in the area,” he says.
The new contract will take effect on October 1, 2016.
