OREANDA-NEWS. Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) announced today it is part of a design joint venture sub-contracted by the Gateway South Consortium which was recently selected to design and construct the Darlington Upgrade project in Adelaide, Australia. The Gateway South Consortium is a joint venture between Fulton Hogan and Laing O’Rourke. The design joint venture consists of Jacobs, KBR and SMEC Australia.

The major transport project, with a budget of approximately $440 million (AU$ $620 million), is the next stage in the upgrade of one of the regions’ most important transport corridors. The project aims to improve safety and reduce congestion and travel times for motorists and public transport users.

Requirements of the design joint venture include the reconfiguration of the existing 3.3 kilometer road from the Southern Expressway to north of Tonsley Boulevard, as well as the design of a lowered, non-stop motorway passing underneath Flinders Driver, Sturt Road, Mimosa Terrance/Sutton Road and Tonsley Boulevard.

Most of the detailed design and approvals work is scheduled to begin this year, with all ground works expected to be completed by 2018.

In making the announcement, Jacobs Senior Vice President Buildings and Infrastructure Patrick Hill said, “We are proud to be involved in this landmark transport project for South Australia and look forward to working closely with the other members of the Gateway South team. This project represents an excellent opportunity to leverage our proven experience and expertise on major transport infrastructure projects.”

Jacobs is one of the world’s largest and most diverse providers of full-spectrum technical, professional and construction services for industrial, commercial and government organizations globally. The company employs 50,000 people and operates in more than 30 countries around the world.