Six in race for £207m A556 roads deal

At least six big guns are targeting a road deal worth up to £207m in the North West.

Sources say that Costain, Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Bam Nuttall, Laing O'Rourke and Carillion have their sights fixed on the Highways Agency's (HA) A556 Knutsford to Bowdon scheme in Cheshire.

An insider said: "The betting is that, especially with the storm clouds of the economic depression still very much around us, the HA will shortlist firms with very good CAT sources to price this one and go through the bids with a fine toothcomb.

"Also, the scheme is diverse in its requirements, so only firms capable of tackling a multi-faceted job are likely to get a look-in."

The job centres on the upgrade of the A556 between the M6 junction 19 roundabout near Knutsford and the M56 junction 7 roundabout near Bowdon View.

The HA is likely to draw up its shortlist of bidders to pitch for the scheme within the next few weeks.

The client is expected to send out the tender paperwork to a maximum of five groups when it makes its final choice of bidders later this year.

The HA anticipates the costs of the job will range between £142m to £207m and will take just over six years to complete.

The project is likely to include 5km of new dual carriageway and upgrading around 5km of existing road, which will be maintained by the local authority.

Overbridges, underbridges and culverts also feature in the scheme.