Smart motorway project for UK’s M3

Balfour Beatty is to work on a €163.5 million (£129 million) upgrade project for a 21.4km stretch of the M3 motorway in the UK. The work involves upgrading the route to smart motorway status and is being carried out for the UK Government’s Highways Agency. This project will increase capacity, reduce congestion and shorten journey times for the 120,000 motorists/day using the route. This section of the motorway runs through the counties of Hampshire and Surrey, between Junction 2 which is interchange with th
July 23, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

1146 Balfour Beatty is to work on a €163.5 million (£129 million) upgrade project for a 21.4km stretch of the M3 motorway in the UK. The work involves upgrading the route to smart motorway status and is being carried out for the UK Government’s 2309 Highways Agency. This project will increase capacity, reduce congestion and shorten journey times for the 120,000 motorists/day using the route. This section of the motorway runs through the counties of Hampshire and Surrey, between Junction 2 which is interchange with the M25 orbital motorway around London and Junction 4a (Fleet). The route will be upgraded to a four-lane motorway by converting the hard shoulder to a permanent running lane. Electronic signs, operated by a regional control centre, will be installed to manage the flow of traffic in response to driving conditions.

Mobilisation work is due to start at the beginning of August. Main construction work is due to start in the third quarter of 2014 with completion scheduled for spring 2017. Construction activity will include installing and refurbishing gantries, new static and variable signs, concrete safety barriers, drainage and surfacing works.

The contract is the latest in a series awarded to Balfour Beatty since the company was appointed to the Highways Agency's National Major Projects Framework in 2010.  In June 2014, Balfour Beatty was awarded the M60 J8 to M62 J20 smart motorway scheme.  In April 2014 the company’s construction joint venture with Skanska completed upgrading a stretch of the M25 to a smart motorway, and in January 2014 Balfour Beatty completed upgrading parts of the M4 and M5 to a smart motorway.

The M3 passes through Chobham Common, one of the largest areas of heathland in Surrey, and   Balfour Beatty’s sustainable design will take into account ecological considerations with natural habitats being reinstated.

M4M5 smart motorway scheme in operation:

Balfour Beatty will use similar technology upgrading the M3 to smart motorway status as it has installed on its successful M4/M5 project

Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Long-lasting surface repairs for Avonmouth Bridge
    July 9, 2012
    Two technologies combined to give a heavily used bridge a new surface that should last for years The Avonmouth Bridge carries the M5 motorway over the River Avon, and is a vital part of the road infrastructure in south-west England, linking the counties of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to the rest of the country. Completed in 1973, it carries commuters to the city of Bristol, and to South Wales, along with holidaymakers. The 1.4km long steel box girder bridge comprising a 16,000m2 steel decked central span a
    Read More
  • UK’s A14 widening project ramps up with a recruitment drive
    November 11, 2016
    Contractors are gearing up for one of the UK’s largest road projects, the 34km widening of the A14 between the town of Huntingdon and city of Cambridge. The €1.7 billion government-funded scheme will be delivered over four years by a joint venture between Skanska, Costain, Balfour Beatty and Carillion.
    Read More
  • Bitumen technology reduces maintenance costs
    April 12, 2023
    Looming net zero deadlines, and impetus from the private sector are accelerating the take up of carbon-saving technologies
    Read More
  • Another tunnel for Australia’s WestConnex toll road project?
    July 21, 2016
    The size of Australia’s largest infrastructure project could get bigger with the addition of another tunnel, according to media reports. The New South Wales state government is considering another tunnel, around 1km long, in the inner west, expanding the size of Sydney's WestConnex toll road project, according to the Sydney Motorway Corporation, which along with its state government client, Roads and Maritime Services, is in charge or the US$12.74 billion project. Sydney Motorway was set up in 2014 an
    Read More

Highlighted Content