Jones Bros and Balfour Beatty have scooped a £65.5 million 50:50 joint venture (JV) contract.

The contract involves the design and construction of the 9.8km Caernarfon to Bontnewydd bypass in North Wales.

The project for the Welsh Government will realign the A487 to improve journey time reliability and help economic development in the Arfon area.

The Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract includes a requirement to assist the Welsh Government with statutory processes including public consultation.

Subject to the completion of all the statutory processes and any public inquiry, construction is expected to start in late 2016 with completion by the end of 2018.

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The bypass will be single carriageway and will have alternating two lanes in one direction and a single lane in the other.

It will involve the construction of 22 structures, including seven bridges. These include a crossing over the Welsh Highland Railway, a 300m viaduct over the Afon Seiont and a 280m viaduct over the Afon Gwyrfai and its flood plains.

The joint venture will start work this month taking the scheme through the design and planning stages. This will include public exhibitions and discussions with the project’s public liaison team, to provide accurate information relating to the scheme.

Mark Farrah, Balfour Beatty Regional Managing Director, North and Midlands, said: "We have worked with the Welsh Government previously in delivering similar schemes at the Porthmadog bypass and Gelligemlyn upgrade works recently.

"Together and through our long and successful relationship with Jones Bros we will deliver a scheme which offers huge benefits to the local economy during and after its construction."

(CD)