The consultant said it was exiting highways maintenance to focus on its core engineering design and project management capabilities.

The highways arm employs 1,200 staff and turned over £80m in the six months to 30 September 2012.

Skanska’s UK workforce headcount rises by 25% with the deal, which will more than double its infrastructure services operating unit, making it one of the biggest in the UK business.

At one fell swoop Skanksa now boasts an 8% share of the £2.4bn highways maintenance market in the UK and takes on 55 sites and offices.

The Highways Agency has given its approval in advance and Skanska is now in talks with local authorities over the novation of their maintenance contracts from Atkins to Skanska.

A joint venture between the two firms recently scooped the first of the new generation of cost-cutting highways asset support contracts in area 2.

The area 2 job is worth up to £80m a year over the 5-year term and will cover maintenance of motorways and major ‘A’ roads in the south west.

Skanksa also inherits Atkins maintenance deal in East Anglia, which is presently being rebid as an area 6ASC.

Prof Dr Uwe Krueger, chief executive officer of Atkins, said: “The sale of UK Highways Services, which forms part of our UK Highways and Transportation business, is a step forward in the implementation of our strategy which includes work to optimise our portfolio of businesses.

“We wish to focus on growth sectors in engineering, design services and project management.

“We believe Skanska is a more appropriate owner for this business and will enable it to continue to flourish and grow.”

The deal will complete at the end of May when Aktins receives £16m with a further £2m paid subject to the future performance of the business.