The Connect Roads consortium has been appointed preferred bidder for the £745m Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/ Balmedie-Tipperty Project

The consortium, comprising Balfour Beatty, Carillion and Galliford Try, has won the design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) contract to deliver the project for Transport Scotland in partnership with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.

Balfour Beatty will invest up to £20m, which represents a one third share of the sponsor’s investment requirement, with Carillion and Galliford Try also investing one third each.

The project is being procured under the Scottish government’s Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) model.

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Work is expected to be underway later this year, with completion expected in spring 2018.

The project includes the design and construction of 46km of new dual carriageway between Stonehaven and Charleston in the south, and Blackdog in the north and a further 12 km of upgraded existing dual carriageway between Blackdog and Tipperty. It also includes the construction of 40km of new side roads, 30km of access tracks and 72 new structures, including two focal point bridges over the rivers Dee and Don.

Construction activities will be conducted by Balfour Beatty’s UK construction business, Carillion and Galliford Try in an equal joint venture.

Steve Marshall, Balfour Beatty Executive Chairman, said: "We are delighted to be appointed preferred bidder with our consortium partners to deliver this major construction contract, the largest NPD project to be undertaken to date. Balfour Beatty has a strong Scottish heritage and together with Transport Scotland and both Aberdeen Councils, we will use our expertise to complete this long-awaited scheme that will provide substantial benefits to the city of Aberdeen and the north east of Scotland. This appointment underlines our commitment to investment in infrastructure in the UK."

(IT)