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Roads

This Month

Transurban is always going to be big, but will it be expensive?

The ‘too big, too expensive’ takeover target that drives bankers nuts

A $60 billion-plus takeover has never been seen in Australia. So, why are some investors talking about the ASX’s Transurban as a potential target?

  • Anthony Macdonald
Toll roads like Sydney’s WestConnex provide steady returns to investors over the long term

Investors say ‘saleable’ Transurban is shaping up as a buyout target

The toll road giant is one of the few infrastructure plays remaining on the ASX. A lacklustre share price has some fund managers thinking its time has come.

  • Jenny Wiggins

January

US President Donald Trump speaks while signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House.

Trump White House promises ‘massive’ infrastructure announcement

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the news would “prove that the world knows that America is back”.

  • Nandita Bose and Doina Chiacu
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in Rockhampton with Minister Catherine King, Senator Nita Green and Labor’s candidate for Capricornia, Emily Mawson.

PM ignored independent adviser on Queensland road spend

A bypass project that Anthony Albanese visited to spruik a $7.2 billion Bruce Highway outlay had failed a cost-benefit assessment by Infrastructure Australia.

  • John Kehoe

November 2024

Transurban boss Michelle Jablko

How toll road ‘beeps’ became Australian infrastructure’s hottest issue

Politics and business are colliding in Australian infrastructure. Do we really believe in miracle “win-win” scenarios?

  • Anthony Macdonald
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When contracts are souped up to get the highest price, it can take a few years to see the consequences.

Seller’s remorse casts shadow over infrastructure needs

Privatising roads and ports gave state governments plenty of cash to fund new work. But NSW’s struggle with $64 toll roads shows there is a long tail of consequences.

  • Anthony Macdonald

October 2024

Pushing cargo in the City of London.

How cargo bikes are replacing courier vans (and fixing congestion)

They are delivering blood samples for hospitals and documents for law firms, doing more of the heavy lifting that makes London tick.

  • Laura Laker

Goodbye Sydney: warehouse owners priced out of town

The resulting transport and storage charges will flow on to the cost of living in Sydney, even to the cost of building a new home.

  • Updated
  • Robert Harley

September 2024

OPTrust is best known in Australia as owner of the SkyBus, which is held as part of its Kinetic transport business.

OPTrust’s bus operator Kinetic juices up forecasts for $4b-plus sale

The business’ geographical expanse – it owns Melbourne’s SkyBus as well as London’s red double-deckers – has befuddled investors and sparked expectations of a breakup.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Sydneysiders think the tolls they are charged to drive around the city are too high

Transurban’s plan on the table in Sydney toll fare overhaul

Investors are optimistic that the toll road group’s preferred option will be a serious bargaining chip as NSW prepares to overhaul Sydney’s motorway fares.

  • Updated
  • Jenny Wiggins
Atlas Arteria’s attempts to increase toll fares on the Dulles Greenway by as much as 40pc have been knocked back.

End of the road for Dulles Greenway’s 40pc toll increase

Atlas Arteria’s aspirations to push up tolls on its US road have been dashed after a regulator ruled out the hefty increase.

  • Jenny Wiggins

August 2024

The French government wants to tax motorways like France’s Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône.

New French fossil fuel tax clips Atlas Arteria’s profit

The motorway group’s interim profit slid 16 per cent despite making more money from tolls, as the introduction of the levy hits the bottom line.

  • Jenny Wiggins
Transurban CEO Michelle Jablko is telling investors and governments what they want to hear. Can she deliver for both?

Qantas case a timely warning for money-spinner Transurban

The flying kangaroo’s drama is relevant for Australia’s dominant toll operator, which is returning more cash than ever to investors despite political pressure.

  • Anthony Macdonald

July 2024

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King during a tour of the Metro station at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

King sets up infrastructure project review amid CFMEU scandal

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King has directed her department to review major construction projects including the Western Sydney Airport and Inland Rail. 

  • Ronald Mizen
Data from Transurban shows the green pacemaker lights are helping reduce time spent in the tunnel by 50 seconds per trip.

Transurban’s Queensland office shake-up leads to departures

The branch, which manages six toll roads, is losing more senior staff following a restructure and investigation into whistleblower complaints.

  • Jenny Wiggins
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Drivers who use Sydney’s Eastern Distributor toll road would have to pay toll fares in both directions if the government adopts the recommendations of a toll road review.

Sydney’s toll road overhaul is set to target the rich

Drivers who live in some of the city’s priciest suburbs may pay extra, but the benefits of reducing fares on many of its other motorways will be worth it.

  • Jenny Wiggins
Sydney’s Rozelle Interchange gives traffic from Transurban’s WestConnex tunnels direct access to two of the Anzac Bridge’s four lanes leading into the CBD.

Transurban contracts have ‘concerning’ lack of transparency: inquiry

The findings of a NSW parliamentary probe called after the opening of the Rozelle Interchange comes ahead of a government review into Sydney’s toll road system.

  • Jenny Wiggins
Five former employees in Transurban’s Brisbane office have filed Fair Work claims against the tollroad group.

Transurban beds down new executive team after restructure

An operations manager has left Transurban’s Brisbane office as the toll road group’s new executive management team tries to shake off claims it breached the Fair Work Act.

  • Jenny Wiggins
Toll road group Transurban is defending six Fair Work claims.

Transurban denies employee fired for whistleblowing

The toll road group has asked courts to dismiss a claim brought by a former employee who alleged he lost his job after alleging coercion, manipulation of company records and safety failings.

  • Jenny Wiggins

June 2024

Queensland government increases infrastructure spend to $107 billion.

Queensland Labor’s infrastructure bill soars to $107b

Treasurer Cameron Dick has flagged cost blowouts amid increased infrastructure investments ahead of next week’s state budget.

  • James Hall

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/roads-hut