Kier is replacing Amey in this 15 month highway services contract. Credit: Larisa Koshkina / Pixabay.

UK-based construction and infrastructure services provider Kier has secured a 15-month interim highway services contract in Birmingham, England.

Kier replaces Amey, which will exit the present contract at the end of next month following a failed PFI deal.

The interim contract is expected to be signed later this month.

Under the contract, Kier Highways will take over Birmingham traffic operations from 1 April 2020 to 29 June 2021. The company will also be in charge of maintenance works, inspections and winter services.

Birmingham City Council cabinet member for transport and environment Waseem Zaffar said: “I am pleased that Kier has put a compelling and competitive bid to us to maintain the city’s highways.

“Its reputation as a leading national roads operator should give welcomed assurance to the people of Birmingham that we have put the safe and efficient servicing of our streets at the heart of this process.”

In 2010, Birmingham City Council signed a £2.3bn highways management and maintenance contract with Amey Birmingham Highways, now BHL, for 25 years. The contract was awarded as part of the government’s PFI programme.

However, the contract failed following a long-fought legal battle that ended in the council’s favour.

Birmingham City Council and BHL, owned by Equitix and Pensions Infrastructure Platform, have already initiated the process to find a permanent replacement for Amey.

The 14-year full services contract is scheduled to commence on 1 July 2021. The work will include operations, maintenance and improvement of Birmingham’s highways network.

Overall, it will include around 2,500km of road, 5,000km of footways and the city’s traffic control system, as well as ancillary infrastructure.