Highways England (HE) has awarded a £39.1m contract to Vinci for the construction of a new junction on the M20 near Ashford in Kent.

The new junction, 10a is expected to come up at a distance of approximately 700m east from the existing junction 10 near Ashford.

The new junction will make use of two bridges and connect to the existing A20 and a new dual carriageway link road built to the A2070 near Sevington.

"The new junction will make use of two bridges and connect to the existing A20 and a new dual carriageway link road built to the A2070 near Sevington."

Highways England Major Projects in the South East regional director Chris Welby-Everard said: “The new junction, part of the Government’s record £15 billion investment in major roads, will help reduce congestion at the existing junction 10 and unlock potential for future growth in the Ashford area.

"Following our successful public consultation earlier this year, we have awarded the construction contract so that if planning permission is granted we can start work as soon as possible.”

The scheme is currently progressing through the Development Consent Order examination process by the Planning Inspectorate. Construction of the scheme is conditional of planning permission being granted.

VINCI Construction JV Highways Sector director Peter Whitman said: “We are delighted to have been appointed Principal Contractor for the M20 junction 10A improvement works.

“We look forward to working alongside Highways England in delivering this important scheme to reduce congestion and improve journey time reliability, whilst supporting growth in the Ashford area.

“This is an important contract for us as it will be the first Highways England contract delivered solely by VINCI Construction JV, and demonstrates our continued growth in the strategic roads sector."

Vinci were chosen as the preferred supplier using the Collaborative Delivery Framework Lot 3a as a design and build contract.

It will work with Jacobs, from Lot 1 of the same framework.