The quartet will now tender for the M8, M73 and M74 Motorway Improvements project.

Works includes plans to upgrade the A8 Baillieston to Newhouse, completing the motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as improvements to the M74 Raith Interchange and the widening of key sections of the M8, M73 and M74.

The four consortia selected to bid are:

Scottish Roads Partnership:

Amey Ventures Asset Holdings Limited
Cintra Infraestructuras S.A
Meridiam Infrastructure Finance II
Uberior Infrastructure Investments (No.4) Ltd

Connect Roads:

Balfour Beatty Capital Ltd
Galliford Try Investments Ltd

Scotia Roads Group:

BAM PPP PGGM Infrastructure Coöperatie U.A.
Costain Engineering & Construction Limited
Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras, S.A.
Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Ltd

Caledonia Roads Group:

Macquarie Capital Group Limited
Vialia Sociedad Gestora de Concesiones de Infraestructuras S.L.
FCC Construcción S.A.
John Graham Holdings Limited
John Sisk & Son Ltd

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil said: “I am delighted to see such strong interest in this project from a host of world class contractors.

“Strong competition can only be good news for the taxpayer and we also know from our experience on our recent, successful M74 Completion and M80 projects, this kind of infrastructure project will undoubtedly boost the local and Scottish economy, supporting hundreds of local construction and supplier jobs.

“This project will see us complete the vital central belt motorway network and is good news for motorists, for the construction industry and for the Scottish economy.

“Commuters between Edinburgh and Glasgow will see traffic and journey times reduced and road safety improved.  Businesses will benefit from increased accessibility and improved ability to transport goods and services quickly and efficiently.

“Job opportunities will be opened up for construction workers, including the long term unemployed, graduates and apprentices.

“These are tough economic times and decisions are made every day about spending priorities. However, this Government strongly believes that spending on infrastructure projects such as this is key to boosting our economy and I look forward to seeing similar benefits to those delivered by the recent M74 completion and M80 Stepps to Haggs projects.”

Construction on the M8 M73 M74 improvements project will commence in late 2013 with completion by 2017.

The successful contractor will be required to deliver on the job training for apprentices and local employment opportunities.

For a video fly through of part of the project click here