Surrey County Council has shortlisted five companies bidding to win a £200 million contract to maintain Surrey's roads over the next decade.

The current deal, held jointly by Ringway and Carillion, ends in April 2011. The five shortlisted companies bidding for the core highways maintenance contract are:

• Balfour Beatty Workplace Ltd
• Colas Limited
• Enterprise Ltd
• May Gurney Ltd
• Skanska Infrastructure Services

The council will now work closely with the firms as they put together detailed bids for the contract. The five will need to prove their ability to maintain Surrey's roads, pathways and structures such as bridges to a high standard as well as carrying out winter maintenance including road salting.


Ian Lake, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "The winner of the contract will take on a huge responsibility and we will only make a decision when we are certain we have the best people for the job. We will rigorously analyse their bids so the company that wins the contract will be more than able to live up to their promises."

The new contract will run for six years with the option to extend it for a further four years. A final decision will be made in December this year and the contract will begin in April 2011.

(CD/GK)