UK road infrastructure organisation Highways England has awarded a £420m road maintenance contract to Ringway.

According to the agreement, Ringway will be responsible for road maintenance in the East Region, formerly known as Areas 6 & 8, for a period of 15 years.

The contract award follows a competitive bidding phase that was concluded last November.

The scope of the contract includes the maintenance of Highways England’s strategic network, which involves areas of Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Essex, Central Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Peterborough and Milton Keynes.

The contract will also involve routine, reactive and cyclic maintenance, winter service and incident response.

Highways England East of England regional operations director Martin Fellows said: “This innovative contract is part of a brand new way of managing the East of England’s busiest roads.

“We know that how we maintain our roads and respond to incidents are extremely important issues for drivers.

“With this contract, we will be working more directly with our supply chain colleagues who carry out these activities, driving improvement and strengthening our regional expertise.

“Together with Ringway, we will work more effectively, identify innovative ways of working and provide the best possible quality of service to our customers.”

Taking over from Amey in 2017, Kier is currently serving as the main contractor on Areas 6 & 8.

Ringway managing director Mike Notman said: “This is a wonderful result and great news for all our people.

“The East Region network is a diverse, highly trafficked network and Ringway’s existing presence, relationships and expertise in the area will prove invaluable to those travelling and working in this part of the country.”

Highways England recently unveiled plans for a ten-mile dual carriageway as part of the A428 upgrade project between Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

Last month, Highways England partnered with British construction engineering company CA Blackwell to trial a self-driving truck concept on A14 road between Cambridge and Huntingdon.