Contractor Alfred McAlpine this week clinched a £75m contract to carry out infrastructure work for the Highways Agency.

Working in joint venture with Scott Wilson, McAlpine has been appointed to provide highway maintenance services across much of the East Midlands – an extension of an existing contract with the agency.

The contract, to maintain major routes in the area including the M1, A1, A38, A46, A52, and A453, was first awarded in 2002 and was worth £25m a year to McAlpine.

The contract has been extended for a further three years until June 2009.

The work includes the inspection and maintenance of the highway, structures and street lighting, and the provision of an incident support service to make roads safe and re-open them quickly after accidents.

It also involves design and construction work to reduce congestion and accidents, and co-ordinate utilities work.