The A14 Integrated Delivery Team (A14 IDT) has selected Walters to undertake 2 of the 4 packages of earthworks required as part of the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme.

The combined value of the projects represent over 65% of the earthworks required to deliver the scheme. This requires an estimated earthmoving volume exceeding 12 million cubic metres, with a target delivery cost in the order of £60 million.

Walters”s appointment to the IDT was a key target for the company as it continues to expand its earthmoving operations. This significant upsurge in activity comes in preparation for the expected deluge of forthcoming “earthworks led” infrastructure projects, such as the A14, HS2, the M4 CAN (Corridor Around Newport).

The decision to appoint Walters was taken after a thorough and wide ranging pre-qualification and tendering exercise, which saw Walters outcompete eight other UK and international earthwork contractors. The tender was ultimately judged on a 70% quality/ 30% cost basis, the quality element required that we demonstrate our delivery approach to the three key pillars of the A14 IDT (Legacy and Stakeholder, Safety Health Environment and Wellbeing (SHEW) and Economy) and provide evidence that we had successfully completed past projects.

Our history of efficiently and effectively delivering high profile, earthworks-led infrastructure projects over the past 25 years proved invaluable during this process.

This £1.2-£1.8 billion project will create a new 22 mile link between Cambridge and Huntingdon, specifically improving and remodelling the connections between the M11, A1(M), A10 and A14 that are all subject to significant congestion along the existing stretch of carriageway. We now look forward to working with the A14 IDT across the next three years, site works having commenced in late 2016.

(The A14 IDT has been formed to collaboratively deliver the landmark project by bringing together a number of leading main contractors and designers including Atkins, CH2M Hill, Costain, Carillion, Skanska and Balfour Beatty, to work with Highways England under the Highways England Collaborative Delivery Framework.)

For further information on the A14 project, please visit the website for the project at www.highways.gov.uk/A14C2H or contact the A14 IDT direct by emailing A14CambridgeHuntingdon@highwaysengland.co.uk or calling on 0300 123 5000.