Highways England has today announced a £240 million contract with Amey to maintain its major structures in the south-west – the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, M48 Severn Bridge and M5 Avonmouth Bridge.

Following an 18-month procurement and tender process, Highways England has awarded a 15-year Specialist Bridge Inspection and Maintenance (SBIM) contract to infrastructure, highways and public services provider Amey.

The contract, worth £16 million per year, will see Amey maintain the three major structures from the end of November, and this will include structural inspections, routine maintenance and major renewal schemes.

The three structures are vital to the economy of the south-west and Wales, and the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge alone can see 70,000 daily vehicle crossings.

Highways England Operations Director Nick Harris said “Our roads and bridges are among the safest in the world and partnerships like this will help maintain high standards on the three large bridges in the south-west.”

As part of the contract, Amey will become a member of the South West Asset Delivery Community, ensuring the contract provides the best possible value for money and service to its customers through the collaborative network with suppliers and other service delivery partners operating on this contract

Peter Anderson, Managing Director for Transport Infrastructure at Amey, commented “Amey will bring a wealth of innovative operational solutions and capabilities regarding bridge infrastructure, which has been recognised by Highways England, through our work on the Forth Road Bridge amongst other structures across the UK.”