Costain is undertaking a new contract for Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the latest in a series of projects for MAG stretching back for almost a decade.

The new project is the 'spine road' for an extension to the Airport's existing cargo centre, on ground immediately adjacent to the Airport itself. It involves the creation of a 1km single carriageway road with two 45-metre diameter roundabouts and two junctions onto the A538 road.

The expanded cargo area is substantial – around 10 hectares. It will be part of a much larger Airport City development that will span 10 to 15 years and is designed to transform the Airport into a truly international destination in its own right. The first of its kind in the UK, it is aimed to compete with the major airport cities across Europe including Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Barcelona.

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Costain's role "is to provide the basic infrastructure for the site, i.e. spine roads and services so the Airport’s future clients can then come along and develop their individual plots on the site", explained Project Manager, Guy Wooley.

The Airport City South development lies next to an environmentally sensitive area and so these factors have to be taken into account.

Around a dozen Costain personnel are working on the project, together with up to 40 subcontractor staff.

Work began in early December and is scheduled to be completed in August 2014.

(CD/IT)