National Highways initiates plans for new £9.6bn SRN maintenance contracts

National Highways has announced plans to replace its existing Maintenance and Response (M&R) contracts across the entire strategic road network (SRN) with new deals worth up to £9.6bn.

The new contracts are expected to have an initial run of eight years from 1 March 2028 to 28 February 2036, although there is a possible further year’s extension bringing the end date to 28 February 2037.

A pipeline notice, published ahead of future market engagement and the official tender, outlines that National Highways is looking for suppliers that can provide cyclic and reactive maintenance, incident and severe weather responses and oversee operational roadside technology and asset renewal works.

While the notice states the total value could rise to £9.6bn, it adds that 'in the aggregate, the M&R2 contracts are estimated to have an overall value of £8bn, inclusive of contingency'.

National Highways said that the M&R2 tender is ‘possibly going to be divided into two tranches’ that may further include lots. However, the organisation is unable to provide specific details until after market engagement has taken place.

The tender notice for this contract is expected to be published on 22 February 2027.

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