Four in running for £450m highways contract

Four bidders are in the running for a £450 million highways contract with Gloucestershire County Council.

Amey, Atkins, Balfour Beatty supported by Halcrow and a Ringway/Jacobs joint venture are battling it out for the five-year county highways contract which could be worth up to £450 million.

Since 2005, the county council has had a contract with Atkins to provide highway and transportation services through the Gloucestershire Highways partnership.

This arrangement ends in March 2014 so the council needs to find a supplier to work with by agreeing a new five-year contract.

Following cabinet approval in February, four providers have now been invited to submit full tenders.

Once  awarded, the new contract could be extended from the initial five year term up to 11 years in total, which means it's worth between £130million and £450million overall.

The contract will be to provide most highways services including road repairs and winter maintenance.

Cllr Stan Waddington, cabinet champion for the new highways contract, said: "Gloucestershire has more than 3,300 miles of road, they're used by us all almost every day and we know people care a great deal about their condition.

"That's why we are determined to ensure that we work with a partner that can provide the best possible services with the resources we have available.

"I am confident that we will end up with a highways contract which provides value for money for Gloucestershire's tax payers at the same time as quality services."

The invitation to tender for the new highways contract has been issued to the four bidders with an expected return date of 1 August 2013.