Upgrade of a 21km stretch of the M3 to Smart Motorway standard is to be carried out by Balfour Beatty, it was announced today.

The £129 million scheme will take place between the motorway's intersection with the M25 (junction 2) and Fleet (junction 4a). 

Mobilisation works wil start in early August with main construction activity due to begin in the autumn. Completion is scheduled for spring 2017.

Opening up the hard shoulders as permanent running lanes will see each three lane carriageway upgraded to four lane motorway. An average of 120,000 motorists drive along this section of the M3 every day and overhead gantries will be installed to manage traffic flow.

Construction activity will also include the specification of new concrete safety barriers, signs, drainage and surfacing.

This new Smart Motorway contract on the M3 is the latest in a series of such schemes involving Balfour Beatty. Last month the contractor was awarded a £184 million Smart Motorway scheme on the M60 between junctions eight and 20, and in January the company completed upgrading parts of the M4 and M5 to Smart Motorway standard.

In April the company’s construction joint venture with Skanska completed upgrading a 19km stretch of the M25 in Kent and Surrey to Smart Motorway. 

Balfour Beatty executive chairman Steve Marshall said: "The Highways Agency’s approach to using technology in this way reduces the costs of the road network, provides additional capacity and improves journey times.

"This award further strengthens our position as one of the UK’s leading contractors for Smart Motorways."

(Photo: Highways Agency)

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