Lincolnshire County Council has awarded a £217 million contract to maintain 9,000 kilometers of highways, carriageways and footpaths across the region.

A deal was struck with Balfour Beatty Living Places for the six-year contract, with an option also available to extend it for a further six years.

As well as maintaining the highways assets for the Council, the business will deliver winter maintenance and drainage cleansing services to enhance the condition and reliability of the local roads. Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services will invest in 54 commercial vehicles including mobile working platforms and traffic management vehicles to assist works.

Balfour Beatty Living Places will also deliver an Involved Community Investment Programme with commitments to social value spend and sustainability initiatives. These will include hiring 90% of the workforce from the local area as well as creating 63 apprenticeships and 24 graduate placements; furthering Balfour Beatty's commitment to The 5% Club.

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Balfour Beatty Living Places Managing Director, Steve Helliwell, said: "This latest award is testament to our unrelenting focus on delivering a safe, high quality highways maintenance service across the UK.

"With our dedicated teams now spanning from Sunderland to Southampton, we look forward to continuing our commitment to creating great places to work, play and stay, leaving a lasting legacy for the communities in which we operate."

Karen Cassar, Assistant Director of Highways at Lincolnshire County Council, added: "We're delighted to have Balfour Beatty Living Places on-board.

"The new contract will see significant investment in improved equipment and new technology at highways depots around the county, which will mean better road repairs going forward.

"We also welcome their willingness to use local suppliers and take on apprentices, meaning there will be wider benefits for our communities. We look forward to working with them."

Work on the £217m contract is set to begin in Spring 2020.

(CM/MH)