bmJV, a joint venture between Morgan Sindall and BAM Nuttall, has secured two motorway upgrade contracts worth nearly £322m from the UK’s Highways England.

Awarded under Highway’s England’s Collaborative Delivery Framework, the contracts form a part of the smart motorway programme that aims to improve England’s motorways and A roads.

bmJV secured a place on the framework in 2014.

Morgan Sindall Highways managing director Paul Gott said: “These contracts mark the start of two more prestigious projects for bmJV.

“The established relationship between our two companies enables us to provide the best possible service to enhance the capacity and reliability of the UK’s strategic road network in order to improve journeys for road users.”

Under the first contract, the JV will upgrade ten miles of the M62 between Warrington (J10) and Manchester (J12).

“These contracts mark the start of two more prestigious projects for bmJV.”

It is a two-stage design and build contract worth £104m, where bmJV will be supported by design partners WSP and AECOM.

The design phase already commenced last month, while construction works are expected to start this year.

The scope of the second contract, valued at £218m, involves the conversion of the M27 between junctions 4 and 11 into permanent dual 4-lane all lane running along the 15-mile stretch.

bmJV will be supported by design partners SWECO/Mott Macdonald and WSP in this project.

The design phase is expected to commence this month, with construction set to begin this year.