Around 650km – or 4% – of England’s motorways and major A roads are concrete, with most of these having been built in the 1960s and 70s. Much of the work will initially take place in the east of England, with repair schemes planned on the A11 and A12 this summer.

Despite providing decades of largely maintenance free life, Highways England says many of concrete surfaces are now in need of ‘vital upgrades’, with up to £400M earmarked to do so over the next five years.

Depending on the condition of the roads, some will be repaired to extend their life and others are set to be fully replaced with quieter and smoother surfaces.

Places on a £218M Reconstruction Framework have this week been awarded to Morgan Sindall Infrastructure and John Sisk & Son, which will demolish and replace existing concrete road surfaces that are in poor condition.

Meanwhile VolkerFitzpatrick, Colas, Dyer & Butler and Tarmac have been appointed to a Lifecycle Extension Works Framework worth £67M to deliver specialist repairs to concrete surfaces.

“Concrete roads have served the country well since they were first built half a century ago,” said Highways England regional director Martin Fellows. “This is the biggest concrete road renewals programme we have ever embarked on and we’re pleased to have awarded the final two contracts that will help us deliver the maximum benefits of safe, reliable and smooth journeys for many years to come.”

(Photograph: Highways England)