Our client won a £460 million contract to upgrade the 5.5 km single carriageway between the Brockworth bypass and the Cowley roundabout
The opportunity
Known as the ‘missing link’, the A417 upgrade is part of the government’s second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2). It will upgrade the 5.5 km single carriageway between the Brockworth bypass and the Cowley roundabout. This will improve the connection between the dual carriageway sections of the A417 at Brockworth and Cowley, as well as the connection between the M4 and the M5. Our client is one of the UK’s largest highway service providers, with expertise in delivering large-scale highway infrastructure projects.
EiB approach and involvement
Our team provided strategic advice and writing expertise to support this winning bid. Owing to the location in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), preservation of the environment was key in developing our client’s solution.
Our work winning team:
- gathered evidence and developed quality submission responses with subject matter experts
- reviewed and challenged draft responses to refine and improve them
- worked with the client’s operational team members to develop bespoke CVs for the key people involved in their submissions.
Success and outcomes
Through constant, professional support throughout the bid process, we helped our client understand what National Highways was looking for and align their solution accordingly. This solution will not only meet National Highways’ needs but provide significant environmental benefits for the local community. As a result, our client has been successful in securing this strategically important and high-profile £460 million contract. Preparatory work began in early 2023 with construction to begin later in the year. The landscape-led highways improvement scheme will deliver a free-flowing road network and improve safety in addition to conserving the Cotswolds AONB.