Skanska tipped for £117m M1 contract

Shortlisted bidders and a front-runner have emerged for two separate Highways Agency (HA) early contractor involvement contracts for widening and improvement deals on the M25 and M1 totalling nearly £250m.

Skanska and its consultant Babtie are firm favourites to take the M1 junction 19 improvement scheme, worth £117m. Sources say the HA is currently putting the firm through its reality check paces and is expected to announce the award formally early next month.

Left by the wayside are: Amec/Alfred McAlpine/Ove Arup; Costain/Mott MacDonald; Laing O’Rourke/FaberMaunsell; and Mowlem/KBR.

The M1 scheme involves rebuilding the three-level interchange to four levels in an undertaking that is likely to take around three years to complete. A public inquiry into the project is planned for spring 2006 and work on site could start in 2007-08.

Meanwhile, five contractors have picked up the tender paperwork for a two-in-one package around the M25 worth £131.8m.

The line-up for the A2/A282 junction 2 Dartford improvement (£75.5m) plus the widening of junctions 1b-3 (£56.3m) is: Amec; a Balfour Beatty/Skanska joint venture; Costain; Laing O’Rourke; and Nuttall.

The former task includes seven new bridges and widening the A2 from three to four lanes. The latter job includes widening from three to four lanes and upgrading the southbound carriageway.

A preferred bidder will surface in June, with the contract due to be awarded in December.