Highways England is planning to split the vast A66 TransPennine upgrade into four design and build contracts.
Under present estimates the quartet of design and build contracts will be worth just over £770m.
Highways procurement chiefs are now calling up interested contractors to register for a virtual supplier event next month, where further details of the planned procurement will be set out.
The final route for the upgrade was agreed in the Spring with Highways England also awarding an Amey/Arup joint venture team the design contract for dualling sections of single carriageway on the 50-mile route between Penrith and Scotch Corner.
The project will include five new bypasses, key junction improvements and an underpass at the congested Kemplay Bank roundabout near Penrith.
Four TransPennine design and build projects
Package A — £361m
Package B — £188m
Package C — £94m
Package D — £128m
To refine its plans, Highways England has started a market engagement process with contractors and is issuing a questionnaire ahead of the virtual supplier event.
Firms wishing to register for both should email Highways England.
Key projects
Northern bypass of a three-mile section between Penrith and Temple Sowerby
Northern bypass option for Kirkby Thore
Most northerly of two options bypassing Crackenthorpe
Dual a five-mile section between Appleby and Brough alongside the existing section of single carriageway
Dualling a 1.9-mile section of the route north of Bowes
A bypass south of the Old Rectory between Cross Lane and Rokeby
Most northerly of three bypass options linking sections of existing dual carriageway between Stephen Bank and Carkin Moor
The proposals also include significant improvements to the existing junctions between Barnard Castle and the A66 at Bowes and Rokeby.
Written by Aaron Morby on: https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2020/08/10/a66-transpennine-upgrade-to-be-split-into-four-jobs/