Auckland's City Rail Link faces delays after unnamed bidder walks away
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
Auckland's $3.4 billion City Rail Link will be delayed by up to three months following the withdrawal of a preferred bidder from the process.
The release of tender documents for the CRL tunnels and stations will be postponed because of the unnamed bidder's withdrawal, a statement said.
CRL chief executive Chris Meale said while the withdrawal was disappointing, it would not prevent progress on discussions with another prospective bidder.
The project's eight bidders were Fletcher Construction, Acciona Infrastructure New Zealand, Bam International Australia, China Machinery Engineering Corporation joint venture, CPB Contractors, Ferrovial Agroman (New Zealand), Salini Impregilo SPA and Vinci Construction Grands Projets SAS (VCGP) joint venture.
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One of New Zealand's largest-ever transport projects, the 3.4 kilometre underground train line will run from Britomart station in downtown Auckland through the CBD to connect with the existing western line at Mt Eden station.
CRL's spokeswoman, Carol Greensmith, said the bidder was one of two preferred international companies that had been selected.
She said CRL was in talks with the other, and would be shortlisting another company from the list of eight bidders.
The preferred bidder will be known once the request for tender will be finalised in June because of the delay.
Meale said it was too early to tell if the three-month delay will roll on into the current project completion date of early 2024.