The contractors are: Interserve Project Services Limited, Carillion Civil Engineering, BAM Nuttall / Hanson JV, Birse Civils Limited, and Lafarge Aggregates / Costain Limited JV.

The two-year framework contract can be extended up to four years based on performance and the needs of the Highways Agency.

The contract will include maintenance and improvement works, including resurfacing roads and maintaining bridges. Each project can be valued up to £10m.

It has a maximum advertised value of up to £400m over four years and is open for use by the local highway authorities and other public sector clients in the two agency regions.

The five companies will operate on behalf the Highways Agency in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Kent, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Surrey and Sussex. The new contract also includes the option to work on the M25.