Raubex wins work on Bussell Highway

The Australian division of Raubex has secured stage one construction work on the state government's $85 million Bussell Highway project.

The $14.2 million contract was awarded by Main Roads Western Australia, which is leading the project. It involves adding more lanes on the highway between Capel Bypass and Busselton.

There is currently a 17-kilometre section between Capel and north of Busselton, which is a two-lane, single carriageway with passing lanes at about five-kilometre intervals in each direction.

Traffic volumes within this section exceed the capacity of a single carriageway section, Main Roads says, resulting in congestion and delays.

South Africa-headquartered Raubex, which established its Australian engineering and construction operations last April, has been tasked with building a five-kilometre second carriageway and reconstructing part of the existing carriageway, resulting in two lanes in each direction.

Work will begin next month and is expected to complete by June next year.

It comes after Main Roads named Raubex as the preferred contractor for stage one in August.

Stage two works involve building a 12km second carriageway – including three bridges – between Hutton Road and Busselton.

Preparation works for stage two are under way, Main Roads says. They include road and bridge design, environmental approvals and service relocations.

A preferred contractor is yet to be announced.