A COUNCIL has signed a major new roadbuilding contract with a construction firm.

West Sussex County Council has appointed Skanska to a six-year highways “construction framework” which will see £250 million invested in the county’s roads and infrastructure.

The new contract is likely to cover large bypass schemes, town centre redevelopments, highway structural improvements, carriageway resurfacing, and drainage improvements.

The agreement is divided into two separate lots with part of the arrangement covering projects worth less than £2 million and a second covering large design and build contracts worth in excess of £2 million with Skanska eligible to bid for the higher cost projects.

The first contracts within the framework are expected to be awarded in February.

Gerry Curran, Skanska operations director, said: “We are delighted to be supporting West Sussex County Council in the delivery of such a substantial infrastructure investment.

“This framework is an excellent mechanism through which we can help the council to provide significant improvements for road users.

“It will further integrate the authority’s planning, design and construction processes, meaning that projects are completed in the most timely and cost-effective way possible.”