UK firm joins three US groups in deal to design and build Green Line Extension in Boston

Balfour Beatty

A joint venture which includes Balfour Beatty has won a near-£1bn contract to design and build a major railway project in the US city of Boston.

The $1.1bn (£807m) Green Line Extension contract has been awarded by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

The joint venture comprises Balfour Beatty and US construction firms Fluor Corporation, the Middlesex Corporation and Herzog Contracting Corporation. The four companies said they would split revenue from the scheme equally.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty’s chief executive, said he was pleased to end 2017 with what he called another “landmark” contract win, following the award during the year of contracts on major projects including HS2 and Hinkley Point power station.

“The Green Line Extension project will play a key role in helping support Greater Boston’s plans for urban redevelopment and sustainable growth,” he added.

Construction on the line is expected to start next year and is scheduled for completion in 2021.

Last month Balfour topped the contractors table for all work including civils, bagging 28 contracts worth a combined £561m.

Elsewhere the group’s work on Crossrail is threatened by strike action as nearly 100 electricians employed by the firm have voted to walk out for 24 hours next month in a dispute over pay.