Downer EDI (Downer) has secured road maintenance contracts with a combined value of A$420m ($292m) in South Australia.

The contracts are scheduled to begin on 2 November 2020 for a duration of seven years, with two three-year extension options.

The latest agreement further expands the services Downer already provides to the South Australian Government Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI).

Overall, Downer will be responsible for maintaining around 8,500km of roads in the state’s Metropolitan Zone and Regional North Zone.

Downer CEO Grant Fenn said: “Downer has been maintaining South Australian roads since 2003. Currently, Downer is providing maintenance and emergency road services to DPTI, but under these new contracts Downer will also deliver a range of other services, including maintenance of intelligent transport systems, management of third party works and minor capital improvements.

“Overall, Downer will deliver reliable road networks to ensure efficient and safe journeys and also provide opportunities for local service providers and suppliers.”

Downer focuses on providing integrated services in Australia and New Zealand. The company employs more than 53,000 people across 300 sites.

In South Australia, the company has more than 3,500 staff.

Last December, the Government of South Australia started the construction of the A$354m ($242.1m) Regency Road to Pym Street (R2P) Project.

The project involves the delivery of a 1.8km motorway with three lanes in each direction linking the South Road Superway and the Torrens Road to the River Torrens Project.

It is jointly funded by the state and federal governments.