Balfour and Atkins JV preferred for M25 contract
The Highways Agency has appointed Connect Plus, a consortium which includes Balfour Beatty and Atkins, as provisional preferred bidder for the PPP contract to maintain the M25.
The contract will see the consortium add capacity to 102km (63 miles) of the M25, as well as responsibility for maintaining the motorway and its structures.
The project is expected to be awarded later in 2008 with design work starting immediately afterwards.
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Balfour has a 40% interest in the consortium and Atkins holds 10%, while Skanska (40%) and Egis (10%) make up the difference.
"Our team has all the experience and technical skills to deliver the work on time, on budget and to specification and we look forward to successfully completing the next stage of the tender," said Balfour chief executive Ian Taylor.
Atkins said the operation and maintenance part of the contract would be undertaken by a joint venture, with Balfour Beatty and Egis Projects, in which Atkins has a 32.5% share.
