Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

The Project

The widening of the M25 under a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract commenced in 2009. The Highways Agency is to widen approximately 102 kilometres of the M25 by adding a lane in each direction, making the majority of it a 4-lane motorway.

The widening is to be undertaken around the north side of London between Junctions 16 (M40) and 23 and between Junctions 27 and 30 (A13 Interchange). The works will take place over approximately 3 years. In addition, the M25 may be widened between Junctions 23 and 27 and between Junctions 5 (M26) and 7 (M23) around south-east London. This decision will be taken later in the contract.

Key Data

Length road	102 km of widening works (400 km including Operation and Maintenance)
Estimated cost:	£6.2 bn (including Operation and Maintenance)
Contract award:	20 May 2009
Commencement of improvement works:	May 2009
End of contract period:	May 2039
DBFO company:	Connect Plus
Type of road:	Dual 3 lane all-purpose carriageway and dual 4 lane all-purpose carriageway.
Shareholders:	Balfour Beatty, Skanska, WS Atkins and Egis Projects

Discussion

The M25, one of the busiest motorways in Europe, is the key strategic orbital route around London. It forms the hub of the motorway network and up to 200,000 vehicles per day use the most heavily trafficked sections. It is significantly congested at peak times and during road maintenance and incidents. This causes delays and increases the risk of accidents.

The ORBIT Multi Modal Study carried out in 2001 was set up to examine the existing and future problems for orbital travel around London and to produce a long-term sustainable management strategy for the M25 which meets the Government's objectives for transport and solves, or at least ameliorates, the problems on the M25, both now and in the future.

The overall strategy announced by the Secretary of State in response to the ORBIT study involves a phased programme of widening limited sections of the M25, combined with measures to make best use of the existing motorway and the promotion of measures to reduce travel demand and encourage more sustainable travel choices.

Following an assessment of alternative procurement options, the Agency concluded that delivery of the widening works as part of a DBFO contract would provide best value. A number of alternative DBFO options were considered by the Agency, concluding that the requirement for a high quality service on this strategically vital section of the trunk road network should be delivered through a single large DBFO contract.

On the 20 May 2009 the Highways Agency awarded the M25 DBFO contract to Connect Plus, a company established by Balfour Beatty, Skanska, WS Atkins and Egis Projects. A total of 16 commercial banks, plus the European Investment Bank, have agreed to fund the project.

Under the terms of the DBFO Contract, Connect Plus will undertake an identified programme of major motorway widening and other capital works, including improvements to the Hatfield tunnel, and will assume responsibility for routine, winter and major maintenance covering the whole of the Agency's Area 5 and the existing Dartford Crossings.

The cost of the project over the 30 year contract period is approximately £6.2 bn. This figure includes the operation and maintenance of the motorway until 2039, by Connect Plus.

The anticipated customer benefits of the M25 DBFO project will be improved journey time reliability, improved safety on the motorway, reduced congestion and improved driver information.