Joint venture given UK motorway green light

A Balfour Beatty and Vinci joint venture has been given the go-ahead for the construction of a section of smart motorway on the M4 between Heathrow and Reading, UK.

The project, which is part of a £607.4 million (€725.33 million) scheme, was announced in February last year, and has now been given the green light by Highways England.

Balfour Beatty owns the majority of the project at 60%, while Vinci takes a 40% share. The project comprises a 32-mile stretch between junctions 3 and 12 and construction will begin before March 2017, and is expected to be completed in 2021.

Balfour Beatty said the upgrade would increase capacity, reduce congestion and shorten journey times for thousands of road users.

Following the original announcement, Leo Quinn, CEO at Balfour Beatty, said the company would bring proven expertise to the project.

He added, “We can therefore field a strong integrated delivery unit, including experienced supply chain partners, to work closely with Highways England.

“Collaborating in this way will enable us to deliver continuous improvements in performance throughout the three work phases - reducing costs, minimising disruption and above all providing innovative solutions which continue to raise the overall efficiency of the national network for the travelling public.”