Civil engineering firm in gear for smart motorway upgrade project

Nottingham-based civil and electrical engineering firm McCann has been appointed to deliver substantial works as part of Highways England’s £244m smart motorway project between junctions 4-11 of the M27.

The scheme will deliver the latest in smart motorway technology to the major route along the south coast – improving road safety, easing congestion and reducing travel times between Southampton and Portsmouth – two of Hampshire’s busiest and largest cities.

Works started on the scheme in January 2019, with McCann brought on board in April 2020 to take on the installation and upgrade of motorway communications, street lighting and traffic signage as part of the Bam Nuttall Morgan Sindall Joint Venture (BMJV).

The 15 mile stretch will be widened to four lanes with changes to junction slip roads as well as new CCTV cameras, electronic information signs and signals, emergency areas and the hardening of the central reservation.

McCann is working on the scheme until March 2021.

McCann’s contracts manager John McDonagh said: “We’ve partnered with Highways England and a number of its area frameworks, as well as a wide range of sizable projects historically on major motorways and highways.

“The frameworks are great to be a part of, allowing us to collaborate with a number of contractual partners and Highways England to deliver the latest technology and infrastructure solutions to the betterment of the economy and local transport networks.

“We’re delighted to be onboard for the M27 improvement scheme and when completed, this will really boost the local area by creating a safer and more efficient transport solution for Hampshire.”