M25 DBFO contract shortlist announced
HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release (HA077-06) issued by The Government News Network on 13 October 2006
Three construction and finance groups have been shortlisted to tender for the M25 Design, Build, Finance and Operate contract, the Highways Agency announced today.
The final phase of tendering for this PFI contract is due to start early in 2007 and the contract is expected to be awarded in 2008. Subject to completion of the statutory procedures, work could start in early 2009.
The successful shortlisted groups are:
* Amey, Laing O'Rourke & Ferrovial Agroman;
* Connect Plus (Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Atkins Ltd and Egis Projects SA);
* Flow (Vinci, Autoroutes Du Sud De La France, Laing Roads Ltd, Carillion, Costain, Ringway, Mouchel Parkman, Norwest Holst and Jacobs);
The project is being offered as a single DBFO (Design, Build, Finance and Operate) contract. The successful bidder will be responsible for the phased widening of 63 miles of the M25 (most of the remaining three−lane sections) to four lanes in each direction and this work will be phased over the period 2008 to 2016.
The new lanes will help to improve traffic flows on the M25, which is one of the world's busiest roads on which users experience poor journey time reliability, especially at peak times.
The contractor will also be required to keep the motorway and its structures in good condition over a 30 year period. The total value of the contract over a 30 year period will be in excess of £5 billion.
Delivery of the widening will be co−ordinated with other improvements in traffic management to lock−in the benefits of widening such as the introduction of variable speed limits to smooth traffic flows in busy periods.
Widening will take place within existing highway land, and the work will be carefully planned and co−ordinated to reduce delays on traffic as far as possible. We are particularly aware of the pressure that the 2012 Olympic Games are likely to put on the network, and it is expected that widening works will be suspended while the Games are underway.
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport, which manages, maintains and improves the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. Widening of the remaining dual−three lane sections of the M25 was proposed by the M25 Orbit multi modal study and entered the Government's programme of major road schemes (the Targeted Programme of Improvements or TPI) in April 2004. The Agency has been developing the design, programming and procurement arrangements for these schemes.
3. The sections proposed for widening within this contract are:
Section Length km/miles
M25 Jct 16 to 23 (M40 − A1 (M)) 35km 21.7m
M25 Jct 5 to 7 (M26 − M23/Redhill) 17km 10.5m
M25 Jct 27 to 30 (M11 − Thurrock) 23km 14.3m
M25 Jct 23 to 27 (A1(M) − M11) 27km 16.7m
M25 widening from junction 1b to 3 is being procured separately in conjunction with the Highways Agency's A2/A282 project.
4. Construction is subject to completion of statutory procedures and availability of funding. A strategic partnership between the Highways Agency and one supplier gives best value for money to the taxpayer, through economies of scale in procurement, flexibility of implementation and integrated operational management and. The construction phases will be carefully managed to reduce the impact of the work on drivers and keep motorway traffic flowing. Keeping traffic moving safely will be the key objective at every stage of the contract
5. The Highways Agency traffic information website is at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
6. For real−time traffic information, the Highways Agency 24−hour voice activated telephone service is on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
7. For general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency information line on 08457 50 40 30. (Calls from BT landlines to 0845 numbers will cost no more than 4p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more. Service operates: 8am−8pm weekdays, 9am−5pm weekends.)
Issued by the Highways Agency Press Office. Further information please contact 020 7081 7443. Out of hours 020 7081 7443.
