The contract will last up to 20 years and Milestone will replace current incumbent Kier in October.

Milestone will be delivering highway projects and improvements across Suffolk, including maintaining roads, pavements and rights of way, drainage, hedge trimming, construction of new road schemes, snow-clearing and gritting.

Matthew Riches, Operations Director for Milestone, said: “In this new partnership, we are committed to maintaining the safest possible network for local communities, businesses and the travelling public, all year round.

“Our commitment to exceptional delivery will also focus on working collaboratively with the council to meet their net-zero carbon targets and enhancing biodiversity.

“We are committed to creating local jobs for local people to support our delivery, in addition to local supply chain partners adding value to the Suffolk economy. We take pride in supporting our local community and look forward to meeting and working with the residents and businesses of Suffolk from October.”

Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways, added: “The search for a new contractor to deliver our highways services has finally come to completion, and I am delighted to welcome our new highway partner, Milestone, to Suffolk.

“We wanted to find an organisation who could provide excellent services and value for our residents, while sharing our ambition and ideas to innovate in improving delivery of services, communicating more effectively with customers and sharing our commitment to reducing carbon use.

“Services related to our highways will in some way impact all those living, working or travelling in our county; this is why it was essential that we went through such a rigorous process to ensure we found the best possible fit for what we needed here in Suffolk.

“As we navigate mobilising the new contract over the coming months, we will continue delivering highways services for our residents which meet the standards and value for money we expect.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the officers involved in successfully procuring and awarding this new contract, while continuing to keep our county safe and moving.”