The Suburban Roads Upgrade is one of the country’s most prominent roading projects, with a multi-billion-dollar investment geared towards improving Melbourne’s roads. With this landmark Victorian project creating office-based pre-contract opportunities across the city, what’s it all about? And why is it such an attractive career move for Civil Engineers in Victoria and the surrounding states?

A Closer Look at the Suburban Roads Upgrade

From a project perspective, the Suburban Roads Upgrade falls into the ‘mega project’ category, with its $4 billion value making it the largest investment in arterial roads in Australian history. In a nutshell, the Suburban Roads Upgrade – driven by the Victorian Government’s recent investment – will see improvements to 22 priority roads throughout Melbourne’s Outer West, Northern and South-Eastern suburbs. The outcome? We should see reduced congestion, slashed travel times and improved connections between some of Melbourne’s fastest growing communities.

Whilst the Outer Suburban Arterial Roads (OSARs) project has already kicked off in the Western Suburbs (and is currently being delivered by WBHO Infrastructure), planning is underway on the two remaining parts of the project: the Northern and South Eastern upgrades. With both parts now up for grabs, and various contractors being put forward, the project is left with a shortlist of three consortiums. Although it could be up to 12 months before we find out who is going to be awarded these contracts, pre-contract teams are in the process of being implemented.

What Makes This Project Attractive for Civil Engineers?

Getting involved in the Suburban Roads Upgrade is a great chance to expose yourself to the true lifeline of a project, from conception through to delivery. Not to mention the impact of having a landmark project like this on your resume, with so many vital skills that can be learned along the way, including tendering, design, estimation, and commercial/bid management.

Unlike project-based Civil Engineers, who often have to contend with a.) long commutes and b.) extended hours, this is a unique opportunity to spend 12-18 months working in an office environment with set hours of work.

Of course, there are some people who miss being on site on a day-to-day basis, however, most of the Civil Engineers I’m speaking to (who have transitioned into a pre-contract role) are enjoying:

• The structure of a Monday to Friday working week, which many haven’t experienced in the past.
• The added bonus of work/life balance as it doesn’t require working onsite with construction hours, nor is there a need to travel to and from site every day.
• The opportunity to experience different roles and responsibilities within Civil Engineering as opposed to solely delivering projects onsite.
• Gaining exposure to various phases of projects that wouldn’t have been possible in previous roles.

It’s also an easier transition than many might think. When going into the office to work within design and tender teams, your site experience means there is greater understanding of the constructability behind the project. After all, you know the specifications it will have to follow, you speak the language and know a lot of the coding – all vital strengths, especially for senior roles. When you compare this to someone who has only seen a road being built behind a computer screen, the benefits of onsite experience start to become clear.

Summary

From piecing together the contract and tender, to delivering the project after it has commenced, you now have a great chance to experience the whole lifeline of one of Australia’s most prominent roading projects (and deliver it in its entirety). To find out more about Civil Engineering jobs on the Suburban Roads Upgrade, or if you’re considering a move off site, into an office-based role, get in touch with me.