Joint venture selected as preferred bidder on 25-year PFI contract

Vinci Ringway has been selected preferred bidder on a 25-year PFI deal to fix “every single” pot-holed and damaged road in the London borough of Hounslow.

The council said the £800m contract will cover all of the borough’s 259 miles of road and 458 miles of pavement.

A business case will be submitted for the Department for Transport in April and if approved work will begin in January 2013.

Vinci Ringway will make an initial investment of £100m to upgrade the road network.

Cllr Corinna Smart, cabinet member for environment at the council said: “This contract will literally change the face of the London Borough of Hounslow.

“We know our roads and pavements are in poor condition, and to get them up to the standard we want would cost more money than we could ever afford. This PFI provides an affordable way of tackling the problem and getting shot of the grot.”

Phil Jackson, the bid director from VINCI Concessions, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen to work with the London Borough of Hounslow on this pathfinder Highways Maintenance project. 

“We have developed a strong partnership working relationship with our colleagues from the client team during the bidding process and are confident that together we can provide a world class highway service in Hounslow.”

Ringway group managing director Scott Wardrop said: “Ringway is a company that was ‘born’ in London in 1976 and we have been providing high quality highway surfacing and related services to the residents of Hounslow for the last 20 years. 

“We are delighted that we will be able to continue that relationship for another 25 years through this Highway PFI project that helps regenerate the streetscene of the Borough.”