STOCKHOLM, Sweden, August 21, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Skanska (Other OTC:SKSBF) has secured a design and build contract to widen the A2 highway in the UK. The contract is valued at GBP 54 M, about SEK 717 M. The customer is the UK Government's Highways Agency. The contract is included in order bookings for the third quarter of 2003.
The project involves widening of a 6.6-kilometer section of the A2 between Pepperhill and Cobham in Kent. The highway will be widened from three to four lanes in each direction. The A2 is one of the major access roads to London and is used by 110,000 motorists each day.
Design work is beginning immediately, construction is expected to start in 2006 and be completed in 2008.
The contract is Skanska's first under the Highway Agency's new style "Early Contractor Involvement" (ECI) initiative, in which Skanska's expertise is applied at the development and planning stages of the process. Working closely with the Highways Agency, Skanska will be involved in cost-reduction solutions through value engineering and detailed design development work. This cooperation also includes land issues, securing required statutory approvals and environmental aspects.
Skanska UK has previously announced this project, whose design and construction phases are now being included in order bookings.
Skanska UK has recently completed widening of a section the M2/A2. The client was also Highways Agency and Skanska's share of this contract was GBP 55 M, about SEK 730 M.
This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com
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The following files are available for download:
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/08/21/20030821BIT00180/wkr0001.doc
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/08/21/20030821BIT00180/wkr0002.pdf