Agency fails to meet its own deadline

Claims by Highways Agency chief Lawrie Haynes that all 13 road schemes in the revised 1994-95 programme would be awarded by the end of March look certain to be blown out of the water. To date, Only nine have been awarded and there seems little chance that three of the remaining four will make the deadline.

Neither the Widnes eastern bypass or M6 Thelwell viaduct renewal contracts are likely to make the date as tenders have only been back a little over two weeks. Contractors had heard nothing from the Agency as CJ went to press on Tuesday.

The M5 widening scheme in Avon looks likely to fail as Laing and Costain have been asked to extend the tender validity period.