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National Highways has named an international consortium as its preferred bidder to build the controversial Stonehenge Tunnel scheme.
A joint venture comprising Spain’s FCC Construcción, Italian firm WeBuild and BeMo Tunnelling from Austria, has been lined up to deliver the £1.25bn contract for the tunnel and main construction work for the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down scheme past Stonehenge.
The winning JV – known as MORE JV – beat out two other shortlisted bids from MJV, comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics SAS and J Murphy & Sons, and HDJV, comprising Hochtief Infrastructure GmbH and Dragados SA.
MORE JV will be supported by a design consortium made up of Atkins, Jacobs and Spanish designer Sener acting as the design joint venture.
The main works contract covers the construction of the proposed tunnel’s civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and technology components, including the tunnel boring machine, along with the approach roadworks and structures and the environmental components of the five-year construction phase.
The contract is subject to final sign off on the £1.7bn scheme from transport secretary Grant Shapps.
Shapps is currently in the process of “re-determining” his decision on National Highways’ planning application for the Stonehenge Tunnel after a High Court judge ruled his original decision to approve the scheme as “unlawful”.
As part of the process, Shapps released a statement of matters in December last year which sets out the aspects of the planning application that he will be taking another look at. A big part of redetermining the application is looking at the environmental and carbon impact of the proposed scheme in relation to government commitments and legislation. Shapps will also have to prove that he has considered an alternative scheme for a longer tunnel.
National Highways project director for the A303 Stonehenge scheme Derek Parody said: “The announcement of a preferred bidder in no way pre-empts any decision [from Shapps], and once that is finalised, and should the Development Consent Order be granted, having a contractor in place will put us in the strongest possible position to deliver this transformational scheme and deliver the benefits we know it can.”
He added: “The scheme will not only unlock congestion along this vital A303 route, but also conserve and enhance the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site, and the joint venture will bring world class expertise to the construction of the tunnel and the roads.”
A MORE JV spokesperson added: “For the companies that are part of the MORE JV – Webuild, FCC Construcción, and BeMo Tunnelling – this project is a clear example of the development of sustainable, innovative infrastructures that not only provide traffic solutions but also improve people’s quality of life.
“It is also an opportunity to demonstrate the experience and international technical capacity of the companies of the MORE joint venture.”
The preliminary work will provide initial opportunities for local, regional and national companies within the first six months of construction starting.
The contracts for archaeology and enabling preliminary work were announced in 2020. Wessex Archaeology, one of the largest contractors in the sector, were awarded the £35M archaeological mitigation contract. Meanwhile, Octavius Infrastructure (formerly Osborne) have been awarded the £8.5M preliminary works contract.
The proposed upgrade of the A303 between Amesbury and Berwick Down includes:
- 12km of dual carriageway
- A tunnel at least 3km long underneath the World Heritage Site, closely following the existing A303 route
- A new bypass to the north of the village of Winterbourne Stoke
- Junctions with the A345 and A360 either side of the World Heritage Site
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It will be interesting to see how International Contractors deal with the doubtless many objections and protests they will get on site.
By the way, why does the report say “beat out”? Why not just “beat”? Am I just even more out of touch with modern language than I thought I was?
If I recall correctly this scheme was first mooted about 15 years ago. Will it ever be built?
I have been frustrated by traffic congestion on this route for all my long life and still motoring, so am very pleased that progress is imminent. Having practiced as a civil engineer on roads and bridges but now retired, I would be invigorated by making a practical contribution to this wonderful project – any suggestions ?
If we are still giving our work to European contractors we might as well give in to the ongoing EU punishment beatings and rejoin the organisation.