HA's 'internal issues' will delay road deals

Contractors are becoming increasingly twitchy as the Highways Agency (HA) sits on more than £120m worth of work while it sorts out "internal issues" relating to two early contractor involvement bypass schemes.
The tender paperwork for both the £85m Mottram-Tintwistle deal in the high Peak District and the £35.7m Pant to Llanymynech scheme straddling Shropshire and Powys was due to be sent out to shortlisted contractors last year.
The Mottram deal was due out in October but has still not surfaced. The HA would only say that "a myriad of internal issues together with the complexity of the job" is delaying the scheme.
The revamped Pant-Llanymynech scheme has still not landed on contractors' desks, despite first surfacing in 2002 as a design and construct deal.
The HA had to shred its first advert after a massive hike in the scheme's value. The HA blamed the latest delays on "the revamped scheme - we must make sure we get it absolutely right".
One industry insider said: "Contractors are getting anxious, but no one wants to upset the HA. After all, the HA will provide contractors with a vital lifeline of work over the next 10 years."
Another said: "I've been in the business for 30 years and you learn not to believe the HA's deadlines. But deadlines missed and deferred are still very disconcerting and make forward planning very difficult."
Awaiting the paperwork for Mottram are Carillion, Costain, Mowlem, McAlpine and Amec.
Those sweating on Pant-Llanymynech include Costain, Balfour Beatty, Mowlem and Amec.