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The Government of Victoria (Australia) has announced that two consortia have been shortlisted to continue to the final stage of bidding to deliver the eastern section of the East West Link project.

The East West Link project is an 18-kilometre cross city connection north of the Melbourne central business district. The full East West Link will improve the connectivity between Melbourne's established east and rapidly growing west, joining the Eastern Freeway at Hoddle Street with the Western Ring Road in Sunshine West.

•     Capella Capital as agent for Capella Capital partnership
•     Lend Lease Engineering
•     Acciona Infrastructure Australia
•     Bouygues Travaux Publics
•     Lend Lease Services
•     Lend Lease Infrastructure Investments
•     Bouygues Construction Australia

•     Cintra Infraestructuras
•     Retail Employees Superannuation, acting as Trustee for Retail Employees Superannuation Trust
•     Samsung C&T Corporation
•     Ferrovial Agroman (Australia)
•     Ghella
•     Transfield Services (Australia)
•     Macquarie Capital (Australia)

"The Coalition Government is pleased with the high standard of bids to deliver what is one of the world's largest infrastructure projects out to tender at this time.

"The two consortia selected to proceed to the final stage include some of the world's most experienced infrastructure companies. The highly competitive nature of the tendering process will deliver the best value for money for Victorian taxpayers.

"The Government thanks the Momentum Infrastructure consortium for its high quality engagement and participation in the tendering process for the eastern section of the East West Link."

The next milestone for the project will be the planning approval decision. The Planning Minister must release the Assessment Committee's recommendations, and his response to those recommendations, by 30 June. The bidders must comply with any changes approved by the Minister arising from the Assessment Committee report.

The project cost is estimated at A$6 billion (US$5.56 billion).

The East West Link project will be delivered as an availability PPP with the state initially retaining tolling and traffic risk.

Construction of the project is expected to commence in late 2014 with expected completion in 2019-20.