Costain wins ECI trunk road contract in Cheshire

The design and build scheme, for which the Highways Agency has budgeted £139m, will see the A556 between Knutsford and Bowdon in Cheshire upgraded to dual carriageway.

This congested stretch of road runs 6.5km and currently carries 51,000 vehicles a day, with 18% of these HGVs.  Between 1998 and 2005 there were 200 accidents on this stretch, including five fatalities and 39 serious injuries.

A bypass will take traffic away from the communities of Bucklow Hill, Mere and Over Tabley and Junction 7 of the M56 will be upgraded.

Last year’s government spending review announcement spared the scheme but delayed the start of construction – initially planned for 2010 - to 2015.

Costain outbid Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Laing O'Rourke and Interserve

Costain chief executive Andrew Wyllie said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this ECI contract with such an important client and one that further strengthens our position as one of the UK's leading solution providers in the Highways sector."

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