The enabling works contracts have been split into three packages covering northern, central and southern sections of the route, with work expected to start on schedule in 2017.
Seven bidders in running for at least one package
- BBV JV – Balfour Beatty Group, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Vinci Construction UK Limited, Vinci Construction Terrassement SAS
- CEK JV – Carillion Construction, Eiffage Travaux Publics, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas
- Costain Skanska JV – Costain, Skanska Construction
- LM – Laing O’Rourke, J. Murphy & Sons
- Morgan Sindall / BAM / Ferrovial JV – Morgan Sindall, BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman (UK)
- Align JV – BouyguesTravaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, Morrison Utility Services, Volkerfitzpatrick
- Momentum Infrastructure – Galliford Try Infrastructure, Hochtief Infrastructure, Dragados
Lot shortlists
Lot 1 (south)
- BBV JV
- CEK JV
- Costain Skanska JV
- LM
- Morgan Sindall / BAM / Ferrovial JV
Lot 2 (central)
- Align JV
- BBV JV
- CEK JV
- LM
- Morgan Sindall / BAM / Ferrovial JV
Lot 3 (north)
- BBV JV
- CEK JV
- Momentum Infrastructure
- LM
- Morgan Sindall / BAM / Ferrovial JV
The shortlisted bidders are expected to be invited to tender in the spring, with contract award later in the year.
Works cover utility diversions, ecology surveys, archaeology, site clearance, demolition, ground remediation, watercourse and highways realignments, monitoring and instrumentation, structural reinforcements and drainage.
Simon Kirby, HS2 chief executive, said: “Today’s shortlist marks an important milestone as we move towards the start of construction in 2017.
“Over the course of the next few years, the winning bidders will go on to employ thousands of people on site and in the supply chain, preparing the ground for the start of major civil engineering.
“Announcing the shortlist now will help give business the certainty they need to push on with their bids, start to put in place supply chains and invest in recruitment, training and education ahead of the start of construction.”
Today’s announcement follows on from the Government’s decision to bring forward the Birmingham to Crewe section of the route six years ahead of schedule, bringing the benefits of HS2 further north, sooner – as well as confirmation of the HS2 budget in the Autumn Spending Review.
