Morgan Sindall has edged out bids from BAM Nuttall, Galliford Try and Kier to land the first stage of a £65m job to build the Carlisle Southern Link Road.
The project to deliver the 8km stretch of highway is being delivered by Cumbria County Council through a two-stage design and build early contractor involvement (ECI) contract.
Morgan Sindall’s bid, which also includes input from local contractor Story Construction, has a 12-month ECI deal and the detailed design phase, which is worth £4.5m. This will culminate in the two sides agreeing a second stage deal for the price of the construction.
Morgan Sindall is also working with consultant Capita Symonds, which worked for the council and helped the scheme secure planning permission last October.
The link road will connect Junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 at Newby West and connect with the Carlisle Northern Development route from the A595 to Junction 44 of the M6.
The project will include four roundabouts, five cycle bridges and four road bridges, including a 180-m long, three-span bridge over the Cumbrian Coast Railway line and the River Caldew. A cycle path will also be built alongside the full length of the northern section of the route.
After public consultation, the county council agreed a preferred route in early 2018. In February 2019, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government agreed to provide funding towards the new road and Homes England also approved a contribution last July.
Consultant Wardell Armstrong has also worked on the project, which aims to improve congestion and connectivity between east and west Carlisle. The link road will also help the council deliver growth projects including the St Cuthbert's Garden Village, which is a council-led scheme to provide 10,000 new homes.
Work is expected to start next year and should take around two years to complete.
