Carillion JV wins £292m highways contract
WOLVERHAMPTON construction and support services giant Carillion’s joint venture with Balfour Beatty has been chosen by Highways England to deliver a £292m upgrade to the A14.
The work will take place between Swavesey and Milton as part of the wider A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme.
An initial contract has been awarded for a pre-construction phase valued at nearly £0.5m with the full contract award subject to statutory approval of the wider A14 improvement scheme.
The contract is to widen a critical and complex ten mile stretch of the existing A14. Works, which will take place in a live-traffic environment, will include the widening of existing road sections between Swavesey to Girton, including the Girton Junction with the M11 Motorway and the Cambridge Northern Bypass.
The project will also require major junction rebuilds and numerous services diversions.
Main construction work is due to start in late 2016 with the new bypass and widened A14 opening to traffic in 2020.
Carillion chief executive, Richard Howson said: “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver this package of the A14 improvement programme. This contract is firmly in line with our selective approach to construction, namely of focusing on large, high-quality projects for long-term customers.
“As a delivery partner of Highways England, we look forward to working collaboratively with Highways England and the other contractors who have been awarded packages under the A14 improvement programme to deliver this important upgrade to the strategic road network that will support regional and national economic growth.”
Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group chief executive said: “This is a complex project and our joint venture brings proven expertise and experience in working as part of an integrated delivery model – something which is going to be crucial for the successful delivery of this project.
“The improvements the scheme will deliver will help to relieve congestion on one of the busiest parts of the strategic road network between the Midlands and East Anglia and support national and regional economic growth.”
