Highways England awards Amey major SW bridges contract
Highways England has announced a £240 million contract with Amey to maintain its major structures in the south-west – the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, M48 Severn Bridge and M5 Avonmouth Bridge.
Following an 18-month procurement and tender process, Highways England has awarded a 15-year Specialist Bridge Inspection and Maintenance (SBIM) contract to infrastructure, highways and public services provider Amey.
The contract, worth £16 million per year, will see Amey maintain the three major structures from the end of November, and this will include structural inspections, routine maintenance and major renewal schemes.
The three structures are vital to the economy of the south-west and Wales, and the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge alone can see 70,000 daily vehicle crossings.
Highways England Operations Director Nick Harris said: “Our roads and bridges are among the safest in the world and partnerships like this will help maintain high standards on the three large bridges in the south-west.
“By working more closely with our supply chain who carry out maintenance, we will be able to work more effectively, identify innovative ways of working and provide the best possible quality of service to road users.
“We’re delighted to welcome Amey to our south-west community and look forward to building a successful, long-term relationship with them, driving improvement and strengthening our regional expertise together.”
Each of the structures has its own unique characteristics and structural complexities – the M5 Avonmouth Bridge spans 1,400 metres, the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge comprises three structures, the Avon Viaduct (2,100 m), Cable Stay (948 m) and Gwent Viaduct (2,077 m), while the M48 Severn Bridge, a suspension bridge covering 1,600 metres of Highways England road network, has the second highest tidal range in the world at 14.5 metres.
Peter Anderson, Managing Director for Transport Infrastructure at Amey, said: “Amey will bring a wealth of innovative operational solutions and capabilities regarding bridge infrastructure, which has been recognised by Highways England, through our work on the Forth Road Bridge amongst other structures across the UK.
“Ensuring our people are safe, our ability to deliver to a high standard and putting the customer at the heart of our operations, guarantees that this approach encompasses Highways England’s imperatives and we look forward to bringing our experience to bear when the contract goes live in November.”
As part of the contract, Amey will become a member of the South West Asset Delivery Community, ensuring the contract provides the best possible value for money and service to its customers through the collaborative network with suppliers and other service delivery partners operating on this contract.
