Amey thought to be lowest on A50 bid

The race to win the œ20 million contract for phase 2 of the A50 - Blythe Bridge to Queensway, near Stoke, has narrowed to three contenders - Amec, Alfred McAlpine and Amey - with Amey rumoured to have tendered the lowest bid. Tarmac, Birse/Bilfinger+Berger and Tilbury Douglas have all received rejection letters.

Meanwhile, Tarmac and the Sir Robert McAlpine/Fitzpatrick jv look to be out of the running on contract 2 of the controversial A12-M11 link road. Mowlem, Amec, Alfred McAlpine and Trafalgar House are still left.

Balfour Beatty would appear to be secure in its bid for the œ80 million design and build contract to widen the M25 between junctions 8 and 10, as Mowlem, Tarmac and Trafalgar House are all out of the running.