Transport for London is promising a new era of collaboration and co-operation between its four highways maintenance and improvement contractors who start working on the capital’s streets from next Monday.

The new Consolidated London Highways Alliance Contract divides the capital’s roads up into four regions (Central, South, North West and North East) and each region has its own contracting team.

But Transport for London’s head of highways Andy Best says contractors will not be expected to work in isolation within their own geographic boundaries. “Commercial sensitivities must be put aside to improve the service,” he told an audience of highway managers at a conference last week. “Pan London forums between contractors and ourselves will seek to share initiatives and solve problems.”

He added that collaboration has worked well on London’s streets before and he wants to foster a culture where contractors support each other rather than just looking after their own patch. “The network and road users come first,” he said.

RingwayJacobs, which has won the right to carry out works on roads in North East London, agrees. Operations director Phill Skegg said: “Years ago we could have had a diesel spill in our area and I would have tried to deal with it myself. But another contractor in a neighbouring area may have a planer and asphalt ready to go, so it would be better for road users if I call them.

“The expectation is to work that way,” he added. “There is no need for a road to be kept shut for two hours longer than needed when another firm has a crew nearby.”

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