As predicted in the Enquirer in August, the country’s biggest contractor secured the job, which is the last of the three big road jobs earmarked to start this financial year.

Subject to statutory processes, construction work is due to start between January and March 2012 with the completed scheme opening to traffic in 2013-14.

The scheme, the first managed motorways scheme in the South West of England, will utilise a range of innovative technology, combined with new operating procedures, to actively control and improve traffic flow, cutting congestion, regulating journey times and improving road safety.

Balfour Beatty’s scope of work will allow the Highways Agency to introduce variable mandatory speed limits and open up the hard shoulder to traffic during periods of exceptionally heavy traffic at congestion bottle necks on the M4 and the M5.

Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said: “This is an innovative scheme that will assist in bringing greater capacity to our motorway network.

“We are pleased to continue our long relationship with the Highways Agency, and look forward to helping them deliver positive benefits to road users.”

The Government has committed to start work on 11 managed motorway schemes by 2015.

And last February the Highways Agency named its four delivery partners for the managed motorway network. These are: Balfour Beatty; BAM Nuttall/Morgan Sindall; Carillion; and Costain/Serco.