Nexus consortium has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Toowoomba's Second Range Crossing (TSRC) PPP project in South-East Queensland, Australia.

The consortium is composed of Cintra Infraestructuras, Ferrovial Agroman, Plenary Group, Acciona Infrastructure Australia, Samsung C&T Corporation, Acciona Concesiones,  and Transfield Services (Australia). The team beat out competition from two other shortlisted consortia: Range Connect and RangeLink.

The TSRC project includes the contraction of a 41-kilometre new section of toll road, bypassing the city of Toowoomba. The new road will run from the Warrego Highway at Helidon in the east to the Gore Highway at Athol in the west via Charlton. The project is the largest Commonwealth Government commitment to a single regional road project in Queensland history.

The project will be developed on a design, build, finance, operation and maintenance (DBFOM) basis. The 25-year concession starts from the date the highway opens to traffic, scheduled for the end of 2018.

The total project investment is estimated at A$1.6 billion (US$1.09 billion). The federal government has committed A$1.285 billion for the project. Queensland Treasurer has also allocated A$321.25 million to the project in its 2014-15 budget.

The project will provide an alternative range crossing for the increasing traffic volumes that are putting pressure on the highway network that passes through Toowoomba and over the Toowoomba Range. The new road is expected to improve traffic conditions in the region by reducing the heavy goods vehicle traffic that currently crosses the centre of town. The project will also enhance opportunities for local economic development and boost employment and the local supply chain.

Toowoomba city is located 127 km west of Brisbane. The city plays a role in Queensland's transport network by acting as a hub for the Darling Downs and a gateway to the developing energy sector in the Surat Basin.

Last week we reported on several road PPP projects globally:

• Sea highway 1 ('Autopistas de la Prosperidad' package) - Colombia
• Cesar - La Guajira road - Colombia
• East Cundinamarca bypass concession - Colombia
• N18 Groenlo-Enschede highway - Netherlands
• A6 Wiesloch / Rauenberg-Weinsberg road - Germany
• Amravati - Chikhli road - India