Contractors appointed to Sprint rapid bus network
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has appointed two contractors to work on crucial parts of the new Sprint rapid bus network along the A34 in Birmingham.
McPhillips (Wellington) and Colas will deliver the construction work for separate sections of the Sprint corridor on the route between the city centre and Walsall.
Sprint is a priority bus corridor that will link Walsall with the centre of Birmingham, Solihull and Birmingham Airport – joining the A34 with the A45 to create one continuous route.
McPhillips is working on the section between the city centre and Perry Barr, while Colas are working on the route between Scott Arms, Great Barr and Walsall town centre.
A contract for the middle section between Perry Barr and Scott Arms was awarded last year.
Sprint is being delivered by TfWM, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), along with local authority partners. It will link with other parts of the public transport network such as West Midlands Metro trams, regional rail services and eventually HS2.
Carl Fergusson, chief Executive of Colas, said: “It is very pleasing for Colas to be supporting the development of infrastructure in the West Midlands, in particular to be awarded the A34 Sprint project which has significance both to the region and to the success of the Commonwealth Games next year.
“The Colas team are looking forward to being involved in this innovative scheme and working with TfWM to deliver a project that will transform transport options for people in Walsall.”
Mark Kiddie, marketing manager for McPhillips (Wellington), added: “McPhillips are delighted to have been appointed as the principal contractor for the delivery of the A34 Sprint Package D works by TfWM.
“As a West Midlands-based civil engineering and building contractor employing over 300 people from the region we’re pleased to play our part in this exciting local transport infrastructure scheme and look forward to carrying out the project while doing all that we can to ensure we limit disruption on the route and its surroundings as much as possible during construction.”
Construction work along the A34 is expected to be completed by March 2022.
