The Auckland Motorway system extends for more than 230km and has more than 50 interchanges and 170 bridges. Until October 2008, maintenance and operational management was provided through approximately 60 contracts.
The NZ Transport Agency's objectives for network maintenance and operational management were identified as; customer and stakeholder satisfaction, optimised use of the existing network, whole of life maintenance solutions and flexibility.
The NZ Transport Agency decided to establish a maintenance alliance and, using a competitive alliance procurement process, formed the Auckland Motorway Alliance (AMA). The AMA started services on 1 October 2008 and, for the next ten years, will manage all network assets. Beca is a key member of the AMA whose participants include the NZ Transport Agency, Fulton Hogan, Opus and the Resolve Group.
The AMA's responsibilities include network environmental management, community and stakeholder liaison and communication, and the planning and implementation of all related routine and periodic maintenance. Through service level agreements the AMA will also play a role in network operational management.
The Alliance delivery process has already enabled the AMA to identify opportunities for improved value for money through maintenance programming efficiencies and avoidance of duplication. Within the first six months of the project Beca helped to develop a GPS-based information system that is now shared and used by all five of the AMA's participants.