Jean-Philippe Trin, Deputy CEO of Bouygues Construction, said: “This new contract demonstrates our ability to address major technical challenges and build large-scale infrastructure in Australia in partnership with locally established companies. We are proud to be able to contribute to Victoria's largest public transport project, which will not only transform the city centre, but also improve the daily lives of Melbourne residents by offering them a new mobility solution.”

The package of which has been designed as a public-private partnership (PPP), is intended to increase the capacity of the Melbourne public transport network to keep pace with the needs of a constantly growing population. It will reduce congestion on the existing network, allowing more trains more often.

The contract covers the construction of 9-kilometre twin tunnels and five underground metro stations, as well as the development of parks and pedestrian and shopping zones in the public spaces around these stations.

Works will get under way early in 2018 and the target date for completion is 2026. The Tunnels and Stations Package will create more than 5,000 jobs.

Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel marks a new milestone for Bouygues Construction in Australia. Established in Australia for approximately fifty years through its subsidiary, VSL, and for more than 20 years with Bouygues Travaux Publics, Bouygues Construction has a number of major projects to its credit, such as the Sydney metro (Bouygues Travaux Publics) and the Homebush Bay Bridge (VSL). Bouygues Construction has set up a subsidiary, Bouygues Construction Australia, to bring together the expertise of its civil works, building and earthworks businesses at a local level. The company is currently building the new NorthConnex motorway link in Sydney, as well as three solar farms in New South Wales and two in Queensland.