Volker and Colas win £65m Birmingham job

VolkerFitzpatrick and Colas are preferred joint venture contractors for two major Midlands construction projects worth £65m.

The pair have picked-up the A45 Transport Corridor Improvement Scheme and the Runway Extension at Birmingham Airport.

The projects are being developed in conjunction due to their close proximities and timeframes.

The council said pairing the schemes would have a host of benefits including increased purchasing power, combining utility diversion works, reducing construction overhead costs and minimising the need to export and import earthworks materials.

The winners beat-off competition from Balfour Beatty, Lagan/Cemex and Morgan Sindall.

The A45 Transport Corridor Improvement Scheme will improve the A45 Coventry Road between Damson Parkway and M42 Junction 6.

Work will start in July 2012 and be completed by summer 2013.

The 405 metre runway extension scheme will start in June 2013 with an operational date of spring 2014.

Des Steadman, MD of Civil Engineering for VolkerFitzpatrick, said, “We’re delighted to be chosen as preferred bidder and to be involved in these projects.

“Both organisations are pleased to continue their long standing relationships with the key stakeholders. We recognise the strategic importance of this significant infrastructure project to the region and look forward to its successful delivery.”

The runway extension works are currently estimated at £33m and will be funded by the Airport Company.

The A45 Corridor Improvement works are currently estimated at £32m, funded by £10 million from Centro (the Transport Authority for the West Midlands), a £7m contribution by the Airport for the cost of the revised alignment of the A45 corridor, and potentially £15.7m through the Government’s Regional Growth Fund for which the final contract is still pending.