Australia’s Victoria State has chosen a Franco-Spanish-Australian consortium as preferred bidder to DBFOM a 6-km-long tunnel that will be the first stage of Melbourne’s planned 18-km cross-city tolled corridor, East West Link. Lend Lease Australian Property Fund heads the consortium East West Connect, in which France’s Bouygues and Spain’s Acciona concession units hold undisclosed shares.

The Victoria government is expected to move swiftly into negotiations with the consortium over the final terms of the deal, with the aim of signing a concession contract prior to state elections on November 29. The consortium has declined to comment until the contract is signed.  A$8-billion (US$7.098 billion)