JV awarded A6 dualling contract

A Graham/Farrans joint venture has been awarded a contract to dual the A6 from Randalstown to Castledawson in Northern Ireland.

The contract will be carried out in two phases. The first phase is to assist TransportNI with completion of the design and have the scheme at a ‘shovel ready’ stage. This will allow the scheme to progress to the construction phase at short notice when the necessary funding becomes available.

A total of 14km of new dual carriageway will be constructed as part of the scheme. This will be in two sections: 7.3 km from the end of the M22 at Randalstown to the Toome Bypass; and 6.7 km from Toome Bypass to the Castledawson roundabout.

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy (pictured) said: “The appointment of this team is an important next step in the delivery of this scheme. Graham/Farrans joint venture will assist in the development to a ‘shovel ready’ stage in readiness for construction at short notice when funding becomes available. This A6 dualling scheme is a significant project that will remove a major bottleneck and enhance this strategically important route for the North West which links Londonderry and Belfast.

“With traffic levels continuing to grow, a dual carriageway will improve safety, reduce congestion and improve journey times on this vital route.”

Following the successful use of Early Contractor Involvement on other major road schemes, TransportNI has opted to follow this innovative approach on the A6 project. This will allow the contractor’s team to contribute to the development of the design and will give them the opportunity to consider construction issues at an early stage in the project. This approach will also facilitate an early start on site should capital funding become available.