GRAHAM signs £124m contract on M25 scheme as costs rise

24/02/2021 | CHRIS AMES

GRAHAM has won a contract worth £124m to design and build a scheme to improve traffic flow at Junction 28 of the M25, which links the motorway to the A12 in Essex.

According to the Highways England webpage for the scheme, its cost is ‘£50 million to £100 million’.

A video published by the government-owned company at the time of the preferred route announcement in 2017 gave the cost of the scheme at £79.5m.

Early design works commenced in winter 2020 and construction work is scheduled to start by spring 2022 subject to a current application for a Development Consent Order (DCO).

An image from Highways England's 2017 video showing the loop road

The scheme includes:

  • A new two-lane loop road with hard shoulder, for traffic travelling from the anti-clockwise onto the A12 eastbound
  • Works on A12 eastbound to maintain existing access to Maylands Golf Course
  • An overbridge at the A12 eastbound exit road to allow the proposed loop road to join the A12 eastbound carriageway
  • Widening of the M25 anti-clockwise carriageway to provide for the proposed exit road

The junction is heavily used and currently features a roundabout mainly controlled by traffic lights. Up to 7,500 vehicles per hour currently travel through the roundabout at peak times.

Highways England has said that traffic in the area is expected to increase by up to 40% by 2037, ‘so without intervention, conditions will continue to deteriorate’.

Current junction layout with the M25 running over the roundabout and the A12 below it

The contract follows the award of two other Highways England contracts to GRAHAM as part of Highways England’s major highways improvement schemes across the South East of England under the Route to Market Regional Delivery Partnership (RDP) framework.

Dave Brown, highways director at GRAHAM, said: ‘This is another significant scheme for us to be awarded and last of the three schemes to sign in the package following signing of the M25 Junction 25 and M2 Junction 5 schemes.

‘It is testament to our growing reputation in the highways sector that we have been chosen as contractor for another important improvement scheme in the south-east of England.’

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Principal Engineer - Highways Development Management

£47,181.00 - £50,269.00, Grade 11, 37 hours, Permanent
We are seeking a dedicated Principal Highways Development Management Engineer to join our team. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£32,061.00 - £46,142.00, Career Grade 7-10, 37 hours, Permanent
Do you want to join a team helping to shape the future of Wakefield through HIghways Development Management? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Boroughbridge, York
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
Within the Highways Maintenance Team we are looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Highway Design and Construction Manager

Grade N, scp50 £62,443 to scp53 £65,663 per annum, plus essential car user allowance
We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Bolton Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader (Maintenance Operations)

Grade 10 - £48,226 - £51,356
Cardiff is growing faster than any other capital city in Europe. Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Recruiter: Cardiff Council

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor Forfar, Angus
Recruiter: Amey

Tree Surveyor

£Competitive
We are excited to offer fantastic opportunities for Permanent Tree Surveyors Scotland
Recruiter: Amey

Chief Operating Officer – South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee

£Competitive
We’re looking for a bold, visionary leader to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)
Recruiter: Carmarthenshire County Council

Clerk of Works - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Clerk of Works to join our dynamic NMC SW Account team at Polmadie. Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor to join our NMC NE account in Kinross. Perth and Kinross
Recruiter: Amey

Planner - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for Permanent Planner – Highways to join our NMC SW Account. Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356 - £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Selby, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356- £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Brompton on Swale, Richmond
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Permit Officer - Internal works promoter - WMF2244e

£34,434 - £35,412
The streetworks Permit Officer role within the highways service Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£41,816 - £45,175
You will be based in the Highways Development Team and work closely with colleagues across the wider transport service. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: West Northamptonshire Council

Transport Project Officer

£34,203 - £37,067
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated project officer to work in our Highways and Transport Service. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: West Northamptonshire Council

Engineer - Structures

£40,777 - £44,075
Join the successful Structures team, and become a vital team member Broad Lane Office, Yate
Recruiter: South Gloucestershire Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW