Joint venture wins key RIS 3 development work

An Atkins Jacobs Joint Venture, supported by PwC, has won a contract to help develop National Highways' third road investment strategy (RIS 3) which runs from 2025-2030, in a deal reported to be worth £7m.

The team will develop business and delivery plans, setting out the case for multi-year investment across England's strategic road network (SRN) and make recommendations on road safety, capacity, quality and user experience.

The joint venture will also work to support National Highways' commitment to enabling economic growth and delivering net-zero road maintenance and construction by 2040.

'This strategic planning will advance opportunities to improve the network's critical infrastructure and unlock wide-reaching community benefits from this investment,' said Jacobs People and Places Solutions Europe senior vice president Kate Kenny.

Atkins UK and Europe CEO Richard Robinson added: 'We now look forward to supporting National Highways to shape the future of its road network, harnessing data, technology and decades of sector experience.'

The work will inform the Department for Transport's evaluation before it makes a final RIS 3 investment decision in late 2024, with the delivery of RIS3 starting in April 2025.

The SRN covers more than 4,500 miles of motorways and major A roads in England.