Leeds City Council finally selected Balfour Beatty to deliver the project after nearly six months of deliberations.

The council appointed Carillon preferred bidder for the major scheme just one week before its collapse into liquidation.

This raised eyebrows at the time given the contractor’s widely publicised problems and the fact that there was nothing to choose between the Carillion and Balfour Beatty bids at the time.

Balfour Beatty will now deliver three roundabouts worth around £7m and enter into an early contractor involvement deal for the £80m contract to deliver 7.5km of dual carriageway.

While the new deal has yet to be publicly announced, sources told the Enquirer Balfour has been told it has secured the job.

The highways scheme is a consolation after Balfour estimated it would be hit for £45m having to fulfil joint venture projects commitments with Carillion on road jobs including the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and A14 in Cambridgeshire.