M56 smart motorway upgrade to start next spring
Highways England has chosen Galliford Try for a £67m contract to upgrade a stretch of the M56 between Junctions 6 and 8 to a smart motorway, during a 12-month scheme set to start in 2019.
Works to the stretch of motorway, which runs from by the Marriott in Hale Barns to the junction with the A556 and A56, will include upgrading barriers and drainage as well as the installation of gantries, emergency refuge areas and technical equipment.
The contractor is scheduled to start on site in the spring and complete approximately a year later.
The M56 upgrade is the latest in a series of smart motorways schemes being carried out in the North West, including a £130m scheme on the M6, running between Crewe and Knutsford.
This project was being delivered by a joint venture of Kier and Carillion, and earlier this year Kier took on Carillion’s staff after the latter was liquidated in January. The project is set to complete in March next year.
Kier is also working on an upgrade running between Junction 13 and Junction 15 of the M6 in a £232.3m deal due to complete in 2022.
Duncan Elliott, managing director of Galliford Try Highways, said: “We’re delighted for this opportunity to further strengthen our relationship with and commitment to Highways England as a leading and critically important client. Highways is the key growth sector for Galliford Try Infrastructure.”
A ridiculous waste of money that will improve nothing and will be delivered late after causing major traffic disruption. The Highways Agency are a disgrace
By Roberto
Roberto – can I see your modelling reports please?
By Hugh
It is a shame there is no ability to “like” the above comment! Completely agree.
By Samtheman
£67m to update drains and crash barrier for a 4 mile stretch of motorway? I’ll do it for £66m LOL
By Andy T
Modelling ? Oh I see . Right no I haven’t done one save for the observational one that demonstrates these initiatives are ALWAYS late … M60 smart motorway work is at least 18 months late .
By Roberto
Will this take as long as the M60 to achieve? The people working on that SMART motorway are a tribe of people only visible from space.
By Elephant
Lets hope Galliford Try make a better fist of this contract than they did of the Aberdeen bypass one.
By Bday
Agree with Roberto. You use another piece of “tech” called the Mk1 Human Eye Ball. By using this I have seen the utter chaos wrought to date on the M6 around Knutsford which is still ongoing with it being closed at least once a week. With that work ongoing the new a556 road only just finished could they just not leave everything alone for a while ? It’s not like we have an alternative in the form of a rail service to get into Manchester. Northern Powerhouse ?? If that tag wasn’t so sad I would laugh.
By A Developer