Cumberland Council Launches £75M Tender for Major Highways Surfacing Programme

Cumberland Council has issued a tender notice for a substantial highways improvement programme, inviting bids for its Core Surfacing works covering the period from 2027 to 2031.

The contract is valued at around £75 million excluding VAT (approximately £90 million including VAT) and is scheduled to begin on 1 April 2027, running through to 31 March 2031. There is also an option to extend the agreement by a further two years, potentially taking it to March 2033.

Based in Cumbria, the council confirmed that the scheme will focus on large-scale highway resurfacing and maintenance across its road network.

The scope of works includes a range of activities such as inlay and overlay treatments, as well as partial and full road reconstruction.

In addition to surfacing, the successful contractor will be responsible for associated civil engineering works, renewing road markings, and implementing traffic management measures during construction.

According to the tender details, the project will be delivered through a single-supplier contract, with an emphasis on high-volume, machine-laid surfacing operations alongside supporting engineering tasks.