8th May 2008 15:30
Atkins (WS) PLC08 May 2008 Atkins part of provisional preferred bidder JV for M25 widening contract The Highways Agency has announced that it has selected Connect Plus, a jointventure in which WS Atkins plc (Atkins) is a 10% shareholder with BalfourBeatty, Skanska and Egis, as the provisional preferred bidder for the 30-year,M25 Widening Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract. The contract encompasses the capital works to add capacity to 102km (63 miles)of the M25, as well as responsibility for maintaining the motorway and itsstructures. Atkins' role in the joint venture is to carry out project management and design,including the design of the new motorway technology and communications systems. The Operation and Maintenance (O&M) part of the contract would be undertaken bya joint venture, with Balfour Beatty and Egis Projects, in which Atkins has a32.5% share. Atkins' role would involve network management, asset inspection,traffic management, tunnel operations, incident management, routine and wintermaintenance services of the entire M25 and a network of feeder roads, and theoperation of the toll facilities at Dartford Crossing. The project is expected to be awarded later in 2008, with design work startingimmediately afterwards. Keith Clarke, chief executive of Atkins, said: "We are delighted that the jointventure has been chosen as the provisional preferred bidder for this importantprogramme of improvements to the M25. The selection of Connect Plus builds onAtkins' experience as designer of the current M1 widening works between the M25and Luton and our design development of the M25 widening at Heathrow. "The network management, operations and maintenance services will call on ourskills and expertise from more than 10 years of delivering similar services onbehalf of the HA at other strategically important sections of the UK trunk roadand motorway network." Ends ENQUIRIES: Andy Winstanley 01372 752018 Head of Media Relations [email protected] Ben Thompson 01372 752154 Head of PR [email protected] NOTES TO EDITORS: Atkins is a multinational engineering and design consultancy, providingexpertise to help resolve complex challenges presented by the built and naturalenvironment. Atkins is the largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe; thelargest engineering consultancy in the UK; and the world's fifth largest designfirm. Atkins won Engineering Consultant of the Year 2008 at the prestigious BuildingAwards. The company was named among the "20 Best Big Companies to Work For 2008'by The Sunday Times; The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2007; and The TimesTop 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work 2007. The company was "Best of theBest" winner in the Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2007. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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