Five firms vie for £20m Bedfordshire bypass scheme

Five outfits have until the end of next month to work up bids for a £20m highways deal being rolled out by Bedfordshire County Council.

On the starting grid for the A5134 Bedford western bypass are Alfred McAlpine, Nuttall, Skanska, Carillion and Balfour Beatty.

The centrepiece of the scheme, which includes a 5km stretch of single carriageway, is a 350m viaduct over the River Ouse.

The council hopes to make its choice of contractor in November, with work on site hopefully starting shortly afterwards.

[Contract Journal, 23 August 2006, p 5]