The Highways Agency has named four contractors for a £2bn framework to deliver ‘Managed Motorways’ across the UK.
The four ‘delivery partners’ are: Balfour Beatty; Bam Nuttall / Morgan Est Joint Venture; Carillion; Costain / Serco Joint Venture.
Managed Motorways use a range of technology to improve traffic flow during busy periods. Features include variable speed limits and use of the hard shoulder at peak times.
The framework contract is expected to deliver the following Managed Motorway schemes (subject to funding and completion of any relevant statutory processes):
- M62 hard shoulder running between junctions 25 and 30 near Bradford
- M1 hard shoulder running between junctions 32 and 35a east of Sheffield
- M6 hard shoulder running between junctions 5 and 8 near Walsall, Birmingham
- M60 hard shoulder running between junctions 8 and 12 east Manchester
- M62 hard shoulder running between junctions 18 and 20 north of Manchester
- M4/M5 hard shoulder running around Bristol from M4 Junction 19 to M5 Junction 17
The HA added that other schemes which improve capacity and traffic flow, such as technology to provide driver information, could also be delivered under this framework contract.
Carillion is already working on the M6 J8-J10 Birmingham Box Managed Motorway, and a Costain / Carillion joint venture is tackling a similar scheme on the M1 between J10-J13 in Bedfordshire.
Procurement for the remaining Managed Motorways schemes for delivery by 2015 is likely to be under a similar framework contract, the HA said.
More information on the managed motorways programme is available in the government publication, Britain's Transport Infrastructure - Motorways and Major Trunk Roads.
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