Balfour Beatty awarded £104m Norfolk road contract

Infrastructure group Balfour Beatty has been awarded a £104m contract by Norfolk County Council for the Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NNDR).

The FTSE 250 company announced on Friday it will construct the new 19.6km dual carriageway, including nine new roundabouts, seven new bridges, an underpass and a more complex two level junction.

Construction will begin this winter and will be completed in late 2017, with over 500 people employed on the project at its peak.

The new road will serve Broadland, Norfolk, and improve access to North Norfolk and Norwich International Airport, with better links to Great Yarmouth and the south of the region.

It’s the second project it is working on in the area, with its £27m contract for the Postwick junction project which will join the NNDR with the A47 trunk road.

Chief executive Leo Quinn said the project draws on the company’s expertise in partnering with local authorities to deliver large and complex infrastructure projects.

“We have extensive proven experience of major road schemes, from the ECI phase through to concept and construction programme development and a strong relationship with Norfolk County Council having collaborated on this project over the last six and a half years.

"The NNDR will significantly improve the Norwich and Norfolk road network, providing real benefits to local communities, businesses and the travelling public as well as supporting regional economic growth."