John Holland to Build $322m Parramatta Rail Bridge

The winner of a $322-million contract to deliver part of the second stage of the Parramatta Light Rail has been revealed.

John Holland has been chosen to build the first 1.3km of new light rail alignment, including a 320m bridge over the Parramatta River.

New renders show the bridge between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point that will carry buses, light rail, pedestrians and cyclists over the Parramatta River.

Design and early works will begin this year ahead of construction beginning next year.

It marks the first major bridge crossing the Parramatta River since the Ryde Bridge was completed nearly 40 years ago.

This work will also include upgrades to surrounding public spaces including Archer Park.

The new as-yet unnamed bridge will also form part of a 9.5km walking and cycling network.

Construction of the bridge is expected to generate 1000 jobs, 80 per cent of them based in Western Sydney.

The NSW Government in its 2024-25 Budget allocated $2.1 billion towards the delivery of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 to “build better, more connected communities as our west continues to grow”, the state said.

▲ The first stage of the Parramatta Light Rail network is due to open to passengers before the end of the year.

“John Holland Pty Ltd was selected as the successful company following a competitive tender process, with interest from 19 leading organisations across Australia and around the world.”

The John Holland Group is an infrastructure, building, rail and transport business operating in Australia and New Zealand formed in 1949.

Headquartered in Melbourne, it is a subsidiary of China Communications Construction and has about 6000 employees.

Work on the bridge project will be limited to weekdays where possible, limiting Saturday works to critical bridge construction activities only.

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will connect to Stage 1 and the Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park, and Wentworth Point with 14 stops over 10 kilometres.

The first stage of the network, between Westmead and Carlingford (L4), is in the final stages of testing and commissioning—passenger services are expected to start before the end of the year.