In a joint statement, federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales roads minister Duncan Gay announced Abigroup, Baulderstone and Thiess had been selected to proceed to the next phase of the tendering process.

The three contractors will now be required to submit detailed tenders, with the final contract to be awarded later this year ahead of the start of construction in early 2013.

The Nambucca Heads to Urunga upgrade will involve duplicating 22km of highway between Port Macquarie and Raleigh, just north of Urunga on the state’s north coast.

While the tender process is being finalised, Roads and Maritime Services will complete the necessary land acquisitions and begin discussing possible noise mitigation measures with property owners identified as part of an earlier environmental assessment process.

The project, which has been brought forward, is expected to be completed in 2016 – the same year the federal and state governments aim to finish the duplication of the Pacific Highway.

This story first appeared on ILN's sister publication ConstructionIndustryNews.net.