Mouchel starts seven-year Norfolk highways contract

Mouchel has started work on its new seven-year contract for highways-related services with Norfolk County Council.

It follows a thorough mobilisation phase which started in November last year when Mouchel started working alongside the council’s in-house team in readiness for the contract start.

The contract covers highways, environmental, transport and development professional services and is worth up to £5 million annually depending on the extent of support required. Subject to performance targets being achieved, the contract could be extended annually for up to a maximum overall term of 12 years.

Commission director, Charles Ferrar, who will be the Mouchel’s senior manager leading on the contract, said: “Norfolk is a brand new client for us and it’s also a new geography for us. To ensure we’re ready from day one we’ve worked closely with our client and the incoming works and traffic signals contractors, Lafarge Tarmac and Imtech, respectively.

“We are focused on delivering an excellent service to Norfolk County Council as we understand that with some 40% of Norfolk’s 860,000 population living in only four urban areas, the local road network is absolutely vital to residents and businesses.“

The Mouchel team now includes several staff who transferred from the previous service provider. Recruitment is well underway to fill a few remaining posts.

Ferrar added: “Our in-depth strength will be important. On top of a strong locally-based core team we can call upon a vast range of technical, environmental and project expertise to help deliver the council’s objectives such as growth in the local economy.”

Norfolk’s highways network includes 9,800km of local road, 4,100km of footways, 50,000 streetlights, 2,000 bridges and other structures, and 375 signal-controlled junctions and crossings.