UK: HS2 Ltd has invited six bidders to tender for Advanced Civil Works on Phase 2a of the high speed line linking Fradley with Crewe, which was granted royal assent by parliament in February.
The two-part enabling works contract covers preparatory works including land assembly; environmental mitigation; establishment of haul routes and site compounds and preparing the trace of the line. This is to be undertaken ahead of the start of the main civil works in mid-2024.
The six shortlisted bidders are:
- BAM Construction;
- Galliford Try Construction;
- John Graham Construction;
- Kier Construction;
- Laing O’Rourke Construction;
- Skanska Construction.
Expected to run for three years, the £240m preparatory works programme is due to begin in autumn 2022.
The tender splits the route into two separate packages, with one contractor delivering the works on the northern sections and a separate contractor delivering works for the southern sections. Given the similarity of scope for the two contracts, bidders are required bid for both packages but will not be able to win both for capacity and resilience reasons, HS2 Ltd explained on September 24.
‘Our announcement marks another significant step forward in delivery of the next phase of Britain’s high speed railway, which will provide low carbon transport for millions of people’, commented HS2 Ltd Chief Commercial Officer Ruth Todd. ‘Extending the Phase 2a route to Crewe will support 6 500 construction jobs and deliver new infrastructure that frees up capacity on the West Coast Main Line and shortens journey times together with an improved passenger experience.’
