Skip to main content

Highways England awards €2.1 billion of upgrades for UK motorways

Highways England has today appointed six joint-venture companies to design and build 10 “smart motorways” as part of a €2.1 billion investment. Construction contractors appointed are the Balfour Beatty and VINCI joint venture, a Costain and Galliford Try joint venture, as well as a Carillion and Kier joint venture. Designers are a CHM2 and Hyder joint venture, an Amey and Arup joint venture, as well as a Jacobs and Atkins joint venture. The award is the second major procurement to be given under th
August 7, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
8100 Highways England has today appointed six joint-venture companies to design and build 10 “smart motorways” as part of a €2.1 billion investment.

Construction contractors appointed are the 1146 Balfour Beatty and 5177 VINCI joint venture, a 2319 Costain and Galliford Try joint venture, as well as a 2435 Carillion and Kier joint venture.

Designers are a CHM2 and Hyder joint venture, an 2958 Amey and 1419 Arup joint venture, as well as a 1662 Jacobs and 3005 Atkins joint venture.

The award is the second major procurement to be given under the Highways England’s Collaborative Delivery Framework. The first was the appointment of designers and contractors for the A14 road Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement which was announced in June.

The smart motorway schemes, part of the €21.3 billion government investment Highways England is delivering between now and 2021, will see 292 extra lane miles added to motorways.

The hard shoulder will be converted to a traffic lane and signing and technology will tell drivers what speed to drive at if lanes are blocked or closed and about incidents up ahead.

“We have awarded these contracts to the companies who demonstrated to us they will work together, across all the projects, not just the ones they have been awarded,” said Highways England smart motorway programme director Andy Watson. “They proved they are driven to get the best results on price, quality and on reducing impact on road users: keeping the motorways flowing while they construct these vital improvements.”

The Balfour Beatty and VINCI joint venture have won a construction package including delivery of the M5 motorway Junction 4a to Junction 6 smart motorway in Worcestershire, starting this autumn at a value of nearly €65.5 million.

They have also been appointed to construct two future schemes, one in the Midlands region and the other in London and the nearby county of Berkshire, due to start in 2016/17, at an estimated combined value of up to almost €800 million. CHM2 and Hyder joint venture have been appointed as the designers for these two future schemes, valued up to €42.6 million.

The Costain and Galliford Try joint venture has won a construction package including delivery of the M1 motorway Junction 19 to Junction 16 smart motorway in Northamptonshire, starting this autumn at a value of nearly €93 million.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New truck parking facilities for major UK route
    May 26, 2016
    Contractor Balfour Beatty is to construct new truck parking facilities alongside the M20 motorway in Kent in the UK. The package of works was awarded by Highways England and the £130 million deal covers the development of the proposals during the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase of the project. This deal also includes the construction of the lorry area subject to a decision to proceed from the UK Government. The £250 million truck parking area was initially announced by the UK’s Chancellor of the Ex
  • UK Highways Agency unveils additional spending plans
    April 12, 2013
    In the UKL the Highways Agency has announced plans for an additional 58 schemes intended to boost the economy, reduce congestion and improve safety. These schemes form part of the third, and final, stage of the Highways Agency’s pinch point programme. The 58 schemes represent an investment of €114.6 million (£98 million) and are intended to remove bottlenecks and keep traffic moving on England’s motorways and major A roads. They will be delivered by March 2015 and will bring an estimated €1.64 billion (£1.4
  • Cleveland Bridge on A1 project in the UK
    February 7, 2017
    Cleveland Bridge UK has delivered a significant upgrade project on the A1 in North Yorkshire, England, with the fabrication and installation of eight bridges. Using British-made steel, the 20-month project was completed with the installation of the 53m Fort Overbridge. The work was carried out on behalf of Highways England’s principal contractor on the A1 scheme, a Carillion and Morgan Sindall joint venture. The A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade is replacing the dual carriageway with a three-lane motorw
  • Lower Thames Crossing contractor shortlist
    September 27, 2021
    The contractor shortlist has been announced for part of the Lower Thames Crossing.