The Transurban Group has chosen Leighton Contractors as preferred contractor for the $550m upgrade of the Hills M2 motorway in North West Sydney. Under the agreement, Leighton will deliver environmental planning and design and construction. Subject to environmental approvals, the upgrade incorporates the widening of existing sections of the roadway from two to three lanes, including the Norfolk Rd twin tunnels, new access ramps, and upgrades of operational management and control systems. Join discussion...

Linking to the rest of the world is increasingly a priority for Doha, with lucrative infrastructure contracts drawing contractors to Qatar. Infrastructure appears to be the name of the game in Doha. Still buoyed by considerable oil and gas revenues, the Qatari capital is increasingly looking at ways in which those revenues can be used for projects providing greater access to the rest of the world. Join discussion...

Hochtief AG, Germany’s biggest builder, said profit will be flat this year as sales and orders fall and predicted that financial markets may not stabilize until 2010. Join discussion...

However, asset write downs for mining services group Macmahon Holdings, toll roads Connect East and BrisConnections, would cut its first-half net profit by $170 million after tax. Join discussion...