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| Leighton to be biggest infrastructure provider in Asia-Pacific Leighton, Australia's biggest construction company, is well on its way to becoming the leading transportation infrastructure provider in the Asia-Pacific region. The company is a major beneficiary of large-scale projects now being put out to tender by the Australia and Hong Kong governments. Leighton Contractors and Thiess are to build various stretches of track, bridges, and road links in a large rail project in Australia. Leighton Asia was awarded its fourth contract in a row in Hong Kong, for construction of a new high-speed rail link and a major terminus. Once in operation, the rail link to China will carry 100,000 passengers daily. The two contracts secured by Leighton Contractors and Thiess in Australia both relate to the Victoria government's Regional Rail Link Project. This is currently one of the continent's biggest transportation infrastructure projects. Metropolitan Melbourne is to receive the first major addition to its rail network in 80 years. Among other developments, the new link will separate metropolitan from regional trains, thereby increasing capacity. For the Footscray to Deer Park section, Thiess will lay 7.5 kilometers of new track as well as build numerous bridges and connecting roads. The Leighton subsidiary is also to upgrade existing stations and design and install a train control system. The entire contract will be carried out in a joint venture. The contract is worth a total of EUR 637 million (AUD 835 million), with Thiess accounting for 50 percent. In the Deer Park to West Werribee section, Leighton Contractors will lay 25 kilometers of track as well as build two new stations and several bridges. This is likewise a joint venture contract, worth a total of EUR 385 million (AUD 505 million). Leighton Contractors has a 50 percent share. The new station contract in West Kowloon, Hong Kong, adds to an existing large-scale project undertaken by Leighton Asia. As recently as October 2011, the company won the contract to build the station and part of the overall Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link for EUR 890.3 million. A year earlier, Leighton Asia had secured two other contracts relating to the rail link for a total of EUR 598 million. Those three contracts have now been joined by a fourth: The company is to design, partly manufacture, supply, and install technical services for the station such as plumbing, drainage, and fire fighting equipment. Once complete, the station will have 15 platforms, customs facilities, departure lounges, duty free shops, and pedestrian bridges and will serve as an international gateway between Hong Kong and China. Together with another contract awarded to Leighton Contractors, the project is worth EUR 99 million (AUD 130 million). write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Construction News :: home page |