Bilfinger Berger's £320m M80 contract to create 500 jobs

The £320m M80 upgrade will create 500 new construction jobs, according to the Scottish government.

The Highways Management consortium headed by Bilfinger Berger will undertake the work, as tipped by CJ in August 2008.

The contract to build a new 11-mile stretch of road between Stepps and Haggs is scheduled for completion in 2011.

Transport Scotland, which signed the contract, said: “The project is a welcome boost for Scotland’s construction industry as it will deliver more than 500 jobs over the two-year construction period.”

CECA (Scotland) chief executive Alan Watt said: “This is tremendous news for Scottish Civil Engineering.

“Completing the motorway network between Glasgow and Stirling will have a hugely positive impact on the economy.

“As well as this, there is a very real need to get work for civils contractors on the ground in the next year as the down turn takes its toll. That work is to start immediately for completion in 2011 is very good news indeed.”