VolkerHighways to begin seven-year collaboration with Bath and North East Somerset Council
Bath and North East Somerset Council has awarded VolkerHighways a Highways Term Maintenance Contract worth £49 million. The contract will begin 1 April 2019 and continue for seven years, with a possible extension of three further years.
The contract includes planned, routine and reactive maintenance to the highway network, as well as emergency response to road incidents. The business will also undertake winter maintenance (including maintaining the Council’s new winter fleet), gully cleansing, rural verge maintenance, event traffic management and drainage maintenance works.
Throughout the contract, VolkerHighways will also create two new apprenticeships every two years, building on their 5% Club commitment of ensuring 5% of their workforce are graduates, apprentices or sponsored students. In addition, over 90% of the workforce and supply chain required to deliver the contract will be sourced locally.
Alistair Thompson, managing director of VolkerHighways, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this new contract, which will allow us to continue our work maintaining areas of historical interest and outstanding natural beauty. We are committed to developing links with the local communities in which we work and look forward to providing social value, alongside the highest quality of highways maintenance service, within Bath and North East Somerset.”
Councillor Mark Shelford, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “It is essential that all our critical services are delivered in an efficient and effective manner, and this contract allows the council to maintain and improve its highway network, keep traffic flowing and make sure residents are kept fully informed when road works are under way.
“VolkerHighways will be using the latest technologies to repair road surfaces and will be using operating systems that provide real-time information on repairs for greater efficiency. A new fleet will be made up of the latest low emission compliant vehicles, as part of our commitment to a cleaner and greener city. VolkerHighways shares the same values and vision as Bath and North East Somerset Council and I welcome this new contract.”