A construction contract worth £78m is up for grabs on the Northern Ireland A1 Junctions Phase 2 Road Improvements Scheme.
The Department for Infrastructure in the devolved nation has launched procurement on the project, which involves the design and construction of works along 25km of the A1 dual carriageway between Loughbrickland and the Hillsborough Roundabout.
The improvements will include the construction of four compact grade separated junctions, the closing up of all gaps in the central reservation and the provision of a continuous central reserve safety barrier along the whole route.
Infrastructure minister John O’Dowd said: 'I have been clear since taking up office that the delivery of the A1 Junctions Phase 2 project is a priority for me.
'This is an important step in the delivery of this scheme which will modernise and improve road safety on a key strategic road carrying 40,000 vehicles per day. Following the completion of all the procurement and statutory processes we hope to be in a position to commence work on the scheme in early 2026.'
The construction contract is priced at £78m, while the cost range for the project is estimated to be between £120m to £130m, which also includes historical costs, consultant fees going forward and land/compensation costs among other factors.
The Design and Build contract covers all permanent and temporary works on the scheme.
The proposed scheme also includes:
- construction of a new northbound on-slip from the Castlewellan Road (Banbridge) onto the A1
- construction of a link road connecting the Milebush Road to the Hillsborough Road CGSJ, Dromore,
- closure of nine selected side roads and approximately 50 private accesses on the mainline,
- conversion of existing minor road junctions onto the A1 to Left-IN/Left-Out (LILO) configurations,
- installation of intelligent transport systems (ITS) including variable message signs (VMS), closed-circuit television (CCTV) and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR),
- accommodation works including accesses, laneways, fencing, planting, drainage, utility alterations.
The tender is for a single lot and the contract is expected to run for 36 months.
The deadline for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 23 January 2025 and firms can register on the TendersNI portal.
