Three lined up for M25 tunnel refurb work

At least three firms are due to pick up the tender paperwork by the end of this month for a £91.3m refurb job on the M25.

Insiders say the Highways Agency has earmarked Costain, Balfour Beatty and Skanska for the Bell Common Tunnel scheme between junctions 26 and 27.

One source said: "It could be there is another contractor in the mix as well - but there are only four contestants at most. Maybe the tight completion deadline and the complex and wide-ranging nature of the work involved has put off some companies."

The job has to be finished within 64 weeks, with the winning contractor needing to work 24 hours every day to get the work done on time. The ECI contract is due to be awarded in May, but as yet there is no firm site start date.

The scheme mainly centres on upgrading the 470m-long tunnel's ventilation, lighting, fire safety systems and communications equipment.