WIREDGOV

Highways England has yesterday appointed six joint-venture companies to design and build 10 'smart motorways' across England as part of a £1.5 billion investment.

Three of these projects will start in autumn this year: 2 in the Midlands - M1 J19 to J16 in Northamptonshire and the M5 J4a to J6 in Worcestershire, and 1 in the North West - M6 J16 to J19 near Stoke-on-Trent.

The smart motorway schemes, part of the £15 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.

Construction contractors appointed are Balfour Beatty and VINCI* joint venture, Costain and Galliford Try joint venture, and Carillion and Kier joint venture. With designers being CHM2 and Hyder joint venture, Amey and Arup joint venture, and Jacobs and Atkins joint venture.

Valued at up to £1.55 billion in total, this is the second major procurement to be awarded under the company’s Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF). The first was the appointment of designers and contractors for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement which was announced last month (June).

Roads minister, Andrew Jones, said:

As part of our long-term economic plan, we are investing more than £1.5 billion over the next five years in upgrading congested sections of motorway. This means better journeys for millions of people across the country, easier access to jobs, and stronger links between towns and cities. This is good for the economy and good for Britain.

Highways England smart motorway programme director, Andy Watson, said:

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. 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 J4a to J6 smart motorway in Worcestershire, starting this autumn at a value of £45.4 million.

They have also been appointed to construct two future schemes: the M6 J2 to J4 in the Midlands, expected to start work in 2017/18, and the M4 J3 to 12 in London and Berkshire due to start work in 2016/17, at an estimated combined value of up to £562 million. CHM2 and Hyder joint venture have been appointed as the designers for these two future schemes, valued between £25 to £30 million.

The Costain and Galliford Try joint venture have won a construction package including delivery of the M1 J19 to J16 smart motorway in Northamptonshire, starting this autumn at a value of £65.39 million.

They have also been appointed to construct two future schemes: the M1 J24 to J25 in the East Midlands, and the M1 J13 to 16 in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, both expected to start work in 2016/17, at an estimated combined value of up to £302.3 million. Amey and Arup joint venture have been appointed as the designers for these two future schemes, valued between £20 to £25 million.

The Carillion and Kier joint venture have won a construction package including delivery of the M6 J16 to J19 smart motorway in Staffordshire and Cheshire, starting this autumn at a value of £129.5 million.

They have also been appointed to construct three future schemes: the M6 J13 to J15 in Staffordshire, the M20 J3 to J5 in Kent, and the M23 J8 to J10 in Surrey and West Sussex, all expected to start work 2017/18, at an estimated combined value of up to £345 million. Jacobs and Atkins joint venture have appointed as the designers of these three future schemes, valued between £20 to £25 million.

The value of construction and design contracts for those projects starting after 2015/16 are indicative as the schemes are in early development phase. Highways England will work with the contractors to agree final target costs.

Work starting on major projects is subject to continued value for money and successful completion of any statutory processes.

There is wealth of information on Highways England’s website about smart motorways including how they work and what drivers will see.

*VINCI’s subsidiaries are VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Taylor Woodrow.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.