ALF Consortium selected as provisional Preferred Bidder for DBFO road project in Northern Ireland

The Amey, Lagan and Ferrovial Agroman (ALF) consortium was today announced as Provisional Preferred Bidder for the Department for Regional Development Roads Service’s DBFO (Design Build Finance Operate) Package 2 contract.  The 30-year project, with a capital value of over £250M, is expected to reach Financial Close in March 2007. 

This project forms part of a £16 billion Investment Strategy For Northern Ireland programme aimed at improving the schools, roads, water, waste, health and office infrastructure of Northern Ireland over the next decade.  As part of this development programme, the Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development identified two packages of schemes to improve the strategic road network across Northern Ireland that would be delivered as Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s). The first package which includes the M1 / Westlink scheme, was awarded in February this year. 

In DBFO Package 2, the consortium will upgrade the existing A1 including provision of a new dual carriageway outer by-pass of Newry between Beech Hill and Cloghogue.  The contract also requires provision of a new dual carriageway for the A4 from Dungannon to Ballygawley. The consortium will also be responsible for all the highway Operation and Maintenance (O&M) for a 125km length of road for the 30-year duration of the contract, including all lifecycle and major maintenance of pavement and structures.  

Project Director Gerry Cawley said: "This is a very prestigious project which will have a significant impact on the infrastructure of Northern Ireland and the consortium of Amey, Lagan and Ferrovial is very pleased to be involved in this project."

The consortium believes its selection as PPB has been significantly influenced by the combined strengths of its members.  All three members have extensive experience of road widening and highways maintenance schemes.  Amey is at the forefront of highway services provision in the UK delivering integrated highway design, management and maintenance services to the Highways Agency and Scottish Executive.  Lagan has an international track record for delivering major roads infrastructure projects throughout Ireland  ( more recently with DirectRoute in the delivery of the Fermoy Bypass project and the Limverich Tunnel PPP Project)and overseas and is one of the largest private construction companies based in the region.  Committed to working with local partners to understand the nuances of the markets they operate in, Ferrovial Agroman have successfully delivered Ireland’s two largest highways projects.

Notes to the Editor

1. The new works on the project road will be divided into the following main schemes:

    

   Scheme 1: Beech Hill to Cloghogue 12km
   Scheme 2: A1 Junction and Centre Median Improvements, consisting:
   Scheme 2A: Hillsborough South Grade Separated Junction
   Scheme 2B: Dromore South Grade Separated Junction
   Scheme 2C: Banbridge North Grade Separated Junction
   Scheme 2D: Loughbrickland Grade Separated Junction
   Scheme 3: A4/A5 Corridor Improvements consisting:
   Scheme 3A: A4 Dungannon to Ballygawley Dualling 20km
   Scheme 3B: A4 Annaghilla
   Scheme 3C: A5 Tullyvar

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