Highways England
Highways England seeks partners for its £7bn smart motorways alliance. Credit: Snowmanradio.

Highways England has launched the procurement process for its £7bn Smart Motorway Alliance (SMP Alliance) to improve motorway journeys and deliver roads of the future.

It aims to deliver the entire smart motorways programme through a single alliance arrangement using a new SMP Alliance procurement model.

The government is looking for six partners including three tier-one contractors, two designers, and a new production manager specialist for its 10-year programme to develop a smarter network.

According to Highways England, the alliance will boost lane capacity on all parts of the strategic road network by embedding technology and transforming hard shoulders to all-lane running.

It will also be responsible for developing, designing, and building multiple road schemes under a single alliance contract.

“We want companies that can learn from their experiences, and work together to deliver ever improving efficiency and productivity.”

Partners will operate from a centralised production hub to coordinate delivery.

Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan said: “We want a step change away from traditional thinking and more towards creating value. We want companies that can learn from their experiences, and work together to deliver ever improving efficiency and productivity.”

The six selected partners will collaborate with Highways England to ensure better safety through improved common working practices and reduced time on site.

One company will deliver production management services (Lot 1), two will serve as the digitally-enabled designers (Lot 2) while the remaining three partners will undertake on-site assembly and construction (Lot 3).

They will also increase investment in skills and innovation from the supply chain, as well as offering better delivery and improved customer service.